Compare towns
Stratham vs Exeter vs Lyme vs Bow
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 homeowners (92.6%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Exeter | Lyme | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
16,151Highest |
1,710Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Lyme and Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow 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% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Exeter 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% |
59.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Bow 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 |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Stratham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781 47% above NH |
$8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Exeter 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
25 min 7% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lyme School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.