Compare towns
Stratham vs Lee vs Brookline
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).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Lee | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754Highest |
5,719Lowest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Stratham 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% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Lee 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. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
| Brookline 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. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,375±$212Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,500±$1k 77% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781 214% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Lee | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.