Compare towns
Madbury vs Stratham vs Lebanon vs Durham
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 the most kids (29% under 18).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Lebanon has the most affordable homes ($385k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Madbury | Stratham | Lebanon | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
7,754 |
14,999Highest |
10,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
41.6±4.9Highest 4% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
| Stratham and Lebanon 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% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest 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%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon 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% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$112,070±$25k 13% 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±$31k 18% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$8,149Lowest 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
53.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
17 min 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Lebanon School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.