Compare towns
Lancaster vs Orange 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
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Orange has the most homeowners (97.5%).
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 | Lancaster | Orange | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216 |
320Lowest |
7,754Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— | +5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9Highest 5% above NH |
41.3±9.1Lowest 5% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Lancaster and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±6.1 NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20%±5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±3.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Orange and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$118,750±$39k 20% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
| Stratham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$302,600±$35k 25% below NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
— | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$5,132 23% below NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below NH |
28 minHighest 5% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.8%±8.9 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Orange 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | — | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.