Compare towns
Stratham vs Lyme vs Durham vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Lyme | Durham | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
1,710Lowest |
15,080 |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
| Lyme and Stratham 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% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme 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% NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Windham 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 |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377 68% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Lowest 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Stratham 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
21 min 22% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Lyme School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 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.