Compare towns
Eliot vs Stratham vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Eliot | Stratham | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146 |
7,754Highest |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61kLowest 44% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
— |
| Stratham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$9,661 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | #43 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.