Compare towns
Stratham vs Lee vs Barnstead
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).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Lee | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754Highest |
4,576Lowest |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Lee and Barnstead 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% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee 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% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead 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±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
| Stratham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
— | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Barnstead 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% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.