Compare towns
Stratham vs Lyme vs Newfields 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Newfields | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
1,710Lowest |
2,023 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Lyme and Exeter 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% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Lyme 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Exeter 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% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Exeter 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 |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
| 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 68% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Exeter 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%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 |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 | — | — | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Lyme School District | Newfields 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.