Compare towns
Stratham vs Lebanon vs Sullivan 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).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
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 | Lebanon | Sullivan | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
14,999 |
687Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
-2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Sullivan and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Exeter 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% |
20.5%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter 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% NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Exeter 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 |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Lowest 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% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Lebanon School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | — | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.