Compare towns
Sullivan vs Stratham vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Stratham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Sullivan | Stratham | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 687Lowest |
7,754Highest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5 8% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Lyme and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 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+ | 20.5%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest 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+ | 28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Stratham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
| Stratham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest 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 | — |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.