Compare towns

Lancaster vs Stratham vs Lancaster

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 oldest population (median age 45.5).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.5%).

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.

MeasureLancasterStrathamLancaster
People
Population
3,216
7,754Highest
2,230Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-8.2%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.7%
NH: +4.6%
+12.5%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
45.5±6.9Highest
5% above NH
41.6±4.9
4% below NH
38.6±8.5Lowest
11% 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%±6.1Lowest
NH: 18.2%
23.5%±5.3
NH: 18.2%
25.1%±8.2Highest
NH: 18.2%
Lancaster and Stratham 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%
20.6%±3.6
NH: 20.1%
19.6%±4.7Lowest
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%
NH: 40.6%
69.9%Highest
NH: 40.6%
23.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±2.2Lowest
NH: 6%
3.9%±1.7Highest
NH: 6%
3.5%±3
NH: 6%
Stratham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$68,911±$23k
30% below NH
$151,998±$20kHighest
53% above NH
$66,765±$20kLowest
33% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$215,700±$24k
46% below NH
$655,400±$36kHighest
63% above NH
$200,500±$24kLowest
50% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,019±$263Lowest
32% below NH
$2,511±$377Highest
68% above NH
$1,036±$221
31% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,226
37% below NH
$9,781Highest
47% above NH
$4,225Lowest
37% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
36.1%±17Lowest
NH: 48.2%
64%±38.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
41.2%±18.2
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%
NH: 7.2%
2.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
19.2%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.1%
NH: 72.8%
92.6%Highest
NH: 72.8%
65.4%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1942
37 yrs older than NH
1986Highest
7 yrs newer than NH
1938Lowest
41 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
14% below NH
27 minHighest
about the NH average
20 minLowest
26% below NH
Work from home
11.5%±6.3
NH: 16.8%
25.3%±6.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
10.6%±6.9Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #107 of 120 in NH #43 of 120 in NH #107 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 History None yet 6 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.