Compare towns
Stratham vs Lee vs Portsmouth vs Newfields
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 kids (23.5% under 18).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k median).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Portsmouth | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
4,576 |
22,545Highest |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
44.1±1.8Highest about the NH average |
| Newfields and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 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%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Portsmouth 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% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Newfields 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 53% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
— | $1,869±$111Lowest 25% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
| Stratham and Newfields 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 |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Portsmouth 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% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Newfields 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Portsmouth School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | None yet | 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.