Compare towns
Madbury vs Lyme 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
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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 | Madbury | Lyme | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,203 |
1,710Lowest |
7,754Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above 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 | 29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest 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+ | 52.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Stratham and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$133,906±$15kLowest 35% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
| Stratham and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31kLowest 18% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% 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 | $1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Madbury 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781Lowest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 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 | 4.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest 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 | — | — | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Lyme 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.