Compare towns
Stratham vs Durham vs Lee vs Brookline
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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Stratham | Durham | Lee | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
10,681Highest |
4,576Lowest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
| Lee and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Stratham 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% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1 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+ | 69.9% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
| Brookline and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
— | $2,500±$1k 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,661Lowest 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.