Compare towns
Newmarket vs South Hampton vs Stratham vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Stratham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Newmarket | South Hampton | Stratham | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463Highest |
984Lowest |
7,754 |
4,576 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9Lowest 5% below NH |
45.1±5.3Highest 4% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
| South Hampton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and South Hampton 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% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest 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+ | 49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Newmarket and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,845±$13kLowest about the NH average |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
| South Hampton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $455,000±$22kLowest 13% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
| South Hampton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$69Lowest 12% above NH |
$1,889±$489 27% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
— |
| Stratham and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,734Lowest 31% above NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | — | #43 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | South Hampton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → |
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.