Compare towns
Kingston vs Lee vs Stratham vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Kingston | Lee | Stratham | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,275 |
4,576Lowest |
7,754 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 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+ | 24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 | $105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above 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 | $492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
— | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,906Lowest 19% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 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 | 2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | — | 12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.