Compare towns
Stratham vs Durham vs Lee vs Amherst
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 20.8).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
15,080Highest |
4,576Lowest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Amherst and Lee 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Amherst 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 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% |
65.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
| Amherst 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 |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
— | $1,462±$256 about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,661Lowest 45% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.