Compare towns
Milford vs Stratham vs Lebanon vs Hollis
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).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Hollis has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
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 | Stratham | Lebanon | Hollis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
7,754Lowest |
14,999 |
8,603 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
49.4±5Highest 14% above NH |
| Hollis and Stratham 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% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±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%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hollis and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
57.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$168,883±$22kHighest 71% above NH |
| Hollis and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$675,900±$48kHighest 68% above NH |
| Hollis and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,598±$302Lowest 7% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.3%±19.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Milford 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% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
29%±6.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hollis 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | #8 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Lebanon School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | None in town | Lebanon High School | Hollis-Brookline High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 11.7 |
11.8Highest |
| 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.