Compare towns

Stratham vs Lee vs Amherst

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k 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.

MeasureStrathamLeeAmherst
People
Population
7,754
5,719Lowest
11,861Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.6±4.9Lowest
7% above U.S.
55.2±5.8Highest
42% above U.S.
45.9±3.5
18% above U.S.
Kids under 18
23.5%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.6%±5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.4%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
33.4%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.2%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
69.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
65.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Lee 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
88% above U.S.
$83,750±$13kLowest
4% above U.S.
$153,196±$10kHighest
90% above U.S.
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±$36kHighest
97% above U.S.
$352,700±$19kLowest
6% above U.S.
$537,600±$30k
62% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
$1,375±$212Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,462±$256
3% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,781Highest
214% above U.S.
$3,980Lowest
28% above U.S.
$9,773
213% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.3%±21.2
U.S.: 51.1%
31.4%±9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Stratham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
18 minLowest
31% below U.S.
33 minHighest
23% above U.S.
Work from home
25.3%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±7.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #209 of 282 in MA #20 of 120 in NH
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Lee Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District
High school in town None in town Lee Middle/High School Souhegan Coop High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.2Lowest
10.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 6 photos → 20 photos → None yet

U.S. 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.