Compare towns
Stratham vs Keene vs Lee vs Exeter
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).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Keene | Lee | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
22,939Highest |
4,576Lowest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
| Exeter 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 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+ | 20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Lee 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% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Stratham and Lee 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 |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
— | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 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% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Keene School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → | 59 photos → |
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.