Compare towns
Lee vs Rye 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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Stratham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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 | Rye | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
5,611 |
7,754Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest 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%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye 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% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Lee and Stratham 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 |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
| Stratham and Rye 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 |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,781±$156Lowest 19% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 45% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Rye 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% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Lee 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Rye School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | 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.