Compare towns
Lee vs Nottingham vs Stratham vs Madbury
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%).
Nottingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
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 | Nottingham | Stratham | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
5,357 |
7,754Highest |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
38.8±6.7 10% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
| Lee and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Nottingham 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% |
18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Stratham 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% |
40.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Nottingham 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 |
$122,201±$20kLowest 23% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
| Stratham and Madbury 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 |
$457,500±$26kLowest 14% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,068±$1k 39% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
| Stratham and Nottingham 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 |
$7,319Lowest 10% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Stratham 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
94.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Nottingham School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Oyster River Coop 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.