Compare towns
Lancaster vs Stratham vs Windham
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).
Stratham has the most people working from home (25.3%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Stratham | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216Lowest |
7,754 |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9Highest 5% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest 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% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Stratham and Windham 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 |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Windham and Stratham 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 |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$2,511±$377 68% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Windham 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% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| 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.