Compare towns
Plymouth vs Madbury vs Stratham vs Lebanon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Plymouth | Madbury | Stratham | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,601 |
2,203Lowest |
7,754 |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
41.6±4.9Highest 4% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Stratham and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54% NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| Stratham and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 31% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | — | #43 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 11.7Lowest |
| 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.