Compare towns
Milford vs Lebanon vs Stratham vs Somersworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milford has the youngest population (median age 36.8).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
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 | Milford | Lebanon | Stratham | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
14,999 |
7,754Lowest |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
41.6±4.9Highest 4% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% 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 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest 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+ | 37.2% NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522 13% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Lebanon School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Lebanon High School | None in town | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.7Highest |
— | 11.4 |
| 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.