Compare towns
Stratham vs Lee vs Townsend vs Newfields
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Townsend has the most renters (18% 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 | Townsend | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
4,576 |
9,100Highest |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 88% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
— | $1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781 214% above U.S. |
$9,661 210% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% 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%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Oyster River Coop School District | North Middlesex | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.