Compare towns
Keene vs Stratham vs Lyme vs Sullivan
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 most renters (44.9% rent).
Stratham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k 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 | Stratham | Lyme | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
7,754 |
1,710 |
687Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
46.6±6.5 8% above NH |
| Lyme and Sullivan 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme 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% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$106,667±$20k 8% 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 | $252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
| Stratham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
21 min 22% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Keene School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Lyme School District | — |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.