Compare towns
Stratham vs Portsmouth vs Lee
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 highest household income ($152k).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k 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 | Portsmouth | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754 |
22,545Highest |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 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%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest 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% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Lee 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±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
| Stratham and Lee 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 |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% 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 |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest 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% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Portsmouth School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school 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 | None yet | 10 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.