Compare towns
Newmarket vs Lebanon vs Ashland vs Stratham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Newmarket | Lebanon | Ashland | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463 |
14,999Highest |
2,183Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Ashland and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.7% NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,734 31% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | — | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Lebanon School District | Ashland School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Lebanon High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
11.7Highest |
— | — |
| 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.