Compare towns

Stratham vs Lebanon vs Somersworth

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%).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).

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.

MeasureStrathamLebanonSomersworth
People
Population
7,754Lowest
14,999Highest
12,111
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%
NH: +4.6%
+8.6%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+0.8%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.6±4.9Highest
4% below NH
38.9±3.1
10% below NH
38.4±2.7Lowest
11% below NH
Stratham and Lebanon 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%
19.9%±4
NH: 18.2%
Stratham and Somersworth 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%
14%±3Lowest
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%
31.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.7Lowest
NH: 6%
6.9%±2.6Highest
NH: 6%
4.9%±2
NH: 6%
Lebanon and Somersworth 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±$10k
about the NH average
$74,504±$13kLowest
25% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$655,400±$36kHighest
63% above NH
$385,400±$29k
4% below NH
$318,400±$23kLowest
21% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,511±$377Highest
68% above NH
$1,744±$132
17% above NH
$1,477±$134Lowest
about the NH average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,781Highest
47% above NH
$8,149
22% above NH
$6,805Lowest
about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64%±38.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
41.9%±7.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
56.3%±14.7
NH: 48.2%
Stratham and Somersworth 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%
NH: 7.2%
11.2%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%Highest
NH: 72.8%
51.2%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
57.8%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
7 yrs newer than NH
1980
1 yr newer than NH
1967Lowest
12 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the NH average
14 minLowest
48% below NH
26 min
3% below NH
Work from home
25.3%±6.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
22.8%±4.3
NH: 16.8%
11.7%±3.5Lowest
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 #117 of 120 in NH
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Lebanon School District Somersworth School District
High school in town None in town Lebanon High School Somersworth 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.