Compare towns
Stratham vs Lee vs Eliot 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 people working from home (27.6%).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
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 | Eliot | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754Highest |
4,576Lowest |
7,146 |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest 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% |
22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest 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. |
$131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% 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. |
$480,600±$61kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
— | $1,948±$471Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$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. |
$9,661 210% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% 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% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Eliot 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% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | None yet | 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.