Compare towns
Lee vs Stratham vs Durham vs Mont Vernon
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).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Mont Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Stratham | Durham | Mont Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
7,754 |
15,080Highest |
2,636Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
42.9±2.8Highest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Mont Vernon 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% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$158,036±$19kHighest 60% above NH |
| Mont Vernon 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 |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 45% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,432Lowest 41% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8% NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Mont Vernon 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #4 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Mont Vernon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.