Compare towns
Lee vs Lebanon vs Stratham vs Deerfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | Lee | Lebanon | Stratham | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
14,999Highest |
7,754 |
4,932 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
42.8±4.2 about the NH average |
| Lee and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±4.1 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+ | 22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.5%±3.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
47.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$131,563±$10k 33% 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 | $480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$421,000±$33k 5% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,593±$318Lowest 7% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 45% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$7,369Lowest 11% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% NH: 7.2% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
34 minHighest 28% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.4%±6.3Lowest 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #61 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Lebanon School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Deerfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | 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.