Compare towns
Newfields vs Bethlehem vs Stratham vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k median).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Newfields | Bethlehem | Stratham | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023 |
2,537 |
7,754Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| Bethlehem and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bethlehem and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1% NH: 40.6% |
45.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
| Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
| Stratham and Newfields 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 |
$5,418Lowest 19% below NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 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 | 2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Lyme 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 | — | #34 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Newfields School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Profile Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
— | — |
| 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.