Compare towns
Lee vs Newington vs South Hampton 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
Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k median).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Stratham has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
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 | Newington | South Hampton | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
939Lowest |
984 |
7,754Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
| Newington and South Hampton 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% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Lee and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
$145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
| South Hampton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,292±$795 54% above NH |
$1,889±$489Lowest 27% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 45% above NH |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Newington 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% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 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 | — | — | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Newington School District | South Hampton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.