Compare towns
Deerfield vs Auburn vs Strafford 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
Deerfield has the most renters (8.7% rent).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
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 | Strafford | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932 |
6,119Highest |
4,306Lowest |
4,576 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2Lowest about the NH average |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
| 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% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee 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% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee 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% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 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±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$122,105±$22kLowest 23% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
| Auburn and Lee 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 |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,593±$318Lowest 7% above NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
— |
| Auburn and Strafford 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 |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Lee 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% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Auburn 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Auburn School District | Strafford School District | Oyster River Coop 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 | 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.