Compare towns
Stratham vs Lebanon vs Plaistow
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).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Plaistow has the oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
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 | Lebanon | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754Lowest |
14,999Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Highest 4% below NH |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
| Stratham and Plaistow 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% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Plaistow 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% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest 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% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Stratham 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 |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,664±$187Lowest 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Plaistow 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% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Lebanon School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.