Compare towns
Stratham vs Canaan 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
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Stratham | Canaan | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754 |
3,811Lowest |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
44.4±3.7Highest about the NH average |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
| Canaan and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest 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+ | 69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$5,985Lowest 10% below NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77.3% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6Lowest 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #83 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.