Compare towns
Lee vs Stratham vs East Kingston
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
East Kingston has the oldest population (median age 51.7).
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 | Stratham | East Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576 |
7,754Highest |
2,311Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
51.7±8.9Highest 19% above NH |
| East Kingston 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest 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% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.1%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| East Kingston 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% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Lee and East Kingston 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 |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$138,194±$38k 40% above NH |
| Stratham and East Kingston 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 |
$575,500±$56k 43% above NH |
| Stratham and East Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,511±$377 68% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 45% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$9,604Lowest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Lee 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% |
14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1986Lowest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1994Highest 15 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
24.1%±5.4Lowest 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 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | East Kingston 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 | 9 photos → |
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.