Compare towns
Hanover vs Plainfield vs Lee 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
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Stratham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Plainfield | Lee | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
2,522Lowest |
4,576 |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Lee and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$122,656±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
| Hanover and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$1,674±$181Lowest 12% above NH |
— | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Plainfield School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.