Compare towns
Stratham vs Lebanon vs Portsmouth 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 kids (23.5% under 18).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Portsmouth | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754Lowest |
14,999 |
22,545Highest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Amherst and Portsmouth 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%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest 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% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Lebanon 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
65.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest 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±$20k 53% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$106,219±$7k 7% 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±$36k 63% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Stratham 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 |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Portsmouth 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% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Lebanon School District | Portsmouth School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | Portsmouth High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Highest |
11.4 |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.