Compare towns
Newington vs Lyme vs Stratham vs Eliot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Eliot has the most affordable homes ($499k 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 | Newington | Lyme | Stratham | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 939Lowest |
1,710 |
7,754Highest |
7,146 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1 25% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newington and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $145,833±$46k 81% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kLowest 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795 62% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,081 95% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme 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 | — | — | #43 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Newington School District | Lyme School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.



