Compare towns
Stratham vs Lee vs New Castle
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k median).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k 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 | New Castle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754Highest |
4,576 |
827Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+3.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest 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%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| New Castle 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% |
68.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| 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 53% above NH |
$131,579±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
$176,953±$29kHighest 79% above NH |
| New Castle 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±$36k 63% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Lowest 68% above NH |
— | $3,501Highest 135% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$8,509Lowest 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| New Castle and Lee 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 | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Oyster River Coop School District | New Castle 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.