Compare towns
Lee vs Portsmouth vs Stratham vs Auburn
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).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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 | Portsmouth | Stratham | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
22,545Highest |
7,754 |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
| Auburn and Lee 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%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 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% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Portsmouth 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% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Auburn 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 |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
| Auburn 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 |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,869±$111Lowest 25% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
| Stratham and Auburn 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 |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Portsmouth 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% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Auburn 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Portsmouth School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— | — |
| 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.