Compare towns
Lee vs Stratham vs Deerfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Stratham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Lee | Stratham | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719 |
7,754Highest |
5,158Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
51.8±3.6 33% above U.S. |
| Lee and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Deerfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$106,136±$14k 31% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$414,900±$37k 25% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,334±$318Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 31% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Deerfield 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #43 of 120 in NH | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.