Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Stratham vs Lee vs Rye
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Portsmouth | Stratham | Lee | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
7,754 |
4,576Lowest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2 about the NH average |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lee and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
| Stratham and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
— | $1,781±$156Lowest 19% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018 20% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
28 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Lee 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.