Compare towns
Lyme vs Newmarket 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
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% 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 | Lyme | Newmarket | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
9,463Highest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
41.2±1.9Lowest 5% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Lyme and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Newmarket and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$100,845±$13kLowest about the NH average |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
| Stratham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$455,000±$22kLowest 13% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Stratham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,734Lowest 31% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 | — | #39 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Newmarket School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.