Compare towns
Stratham vs Lee vs Brookline 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).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
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 | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
4,576Lowest |
5,736 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
| Exeter and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Lee 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Brookline 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±$20k 53% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
| 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 63% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
— | $2,500±$1k 68% above NH |
$1,856±$223Lowest 24% above NH |
| 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 47% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
28 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Brookline School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.