Compare towns
Milford vs Stratham vs Lee vs Derry
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Milford | Stratham | Lee | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
7,754 |
4,576Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
| Lee 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% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Lowest 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Derry and Lee 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±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
| Stratham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
— | $1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Derry 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | None in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | — | 13.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.