Compare towns
Deerfield vs Auburn vs Brentwood vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has the most renters (8.7% rent).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Deerfield | Auburn | Brentwood | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932 |
6,119Highest |
4,641 |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2Lowest about the NH average |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Strafford and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Brentwood and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Brentwood and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.3% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,563±$10k 33% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
$122,105±$22kLowest 23% above NH |
| Brentwood and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $421,000±$33kLowest 5% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Auburn and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,593±$318Lowest 7% above NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Brentwood and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,369 11% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$9,713Highest 46% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Brentwood 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 | #61 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #16 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Auburn School District | Brentwood School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 6 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.