Compare towns
Deerfield vs Auburn vs Durham vs Litchfield
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 affordable homes ($421k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Litchfield has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Litchfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932Lowest |
6,119 |
15,080Highest |
8,499 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2 about the NH average |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
43.1±1.7 about the NH average |
| Auburn and Litchfield 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Litchfield and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±3.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Deerfield and Litchfield 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% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,563±$10k 33% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$162,036±$11kHighest 64% above NH |
| Litchfield 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 |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$485,000±$18k 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,593±$318 7% above NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,138±$406Highest 43% above NH |
| Litchfield and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,369Lowest 11% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,273 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Litchfield and Durham 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% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Deerfield 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #53 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Auburn School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Litchfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Campbell High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 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.