Compare towns
Exeter vs Lee vs Ogunquit vs Stratham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Exeter | Lee | Ogunquit | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
4,576 |
1,379Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest 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+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% 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 | $456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
— | — | $2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$9,661 210% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Lee 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | — | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | 10 photos → | None yet | None yet |
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.