Compare towns
Stratham vs Lyme vs Greenland vs Exeter
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).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Greenland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.6%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k 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 | Lyme | Greenland | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
1,710Lowest |
4,106 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
48.4±7.7 12% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Lyme and Greenland 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% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Greenland 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% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
28.9%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Greenland and Lyme 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.6% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Exeter 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 |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$162,837±$11kHighest 64% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
| Greenland 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 |
$662,800±$42kHighest 65% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
| Greenland 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 |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$2,331±$363 56% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Stratham and Greenland 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,420Lowest 11% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
77.3%±44.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Greenland 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% |
0.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
21 min 22% below NH |
21 minLowest 23% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
32.2%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Greenland and Lyme 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 | — | #10 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Lyme School District | Greenland School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.