Compare towns
Lyme vs Nottingham 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).
Nottingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Nottingham | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
5,357 |
7,754Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
38.8±6.7Lowest 10% 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%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham and Stratham 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% |
18.4%±4.2Lowest 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% |
40.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Nottingham 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 |
$122,201±$20kLowest 23% above NH |
$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 |
$457,500±$26kLowest 14% 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 |
$2,068±$1k 39% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,319Lowest 10% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8Lowest 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 | — | #15 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Nottingham 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 | 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.