Compare towns
Stratham vs Lebanon vs Swanzey
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%).
Swanzey has the most affordable homes ($259k 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.
| Measure | Stratham | Lebanon | Swanzey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754 |
14,999Highest |
7,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.2%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Swanzey 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% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Lowest 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±$10k about the NH average |
$81,595±$11kLowest 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,508±$303Lowest about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Stratham 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% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
71.7% 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 minHighest about the NH average |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±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 | #102 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Lebanon School District | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | Monadnock Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.