Compare towns
Keene vs Lee vs Stratham vs Somersworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
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 | Keene | Lee | Stratham | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
4,576Lowest |
7,754 |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% 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 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest 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+ | 44.1% NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Stratham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
— | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | None in town | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | — | 11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.