Compare towns
Exeter vs Lyme vs Hampstead vs Stratham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Lyme | Hampstead | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
1,710Lowest |
9,102 |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
| Lyme and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Hampstead 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 11% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
| Stratham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Stratham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,634Lowest 30% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #49 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lyme School District | Hampstead School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.