Compare towns
Deerfield vs Auburn vs Townsend vs Litchfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
Litchfield has the most kids (22.6% 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 | Townsend | Litchfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932Lowest |
6,119 |
9,100Highest |
8,499 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2 10% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.1±1.7 11% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Litchfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Deerfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Townsend 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 63% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6k 90% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$162,036±$11kHighest 101% above U.S. |
| 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 27% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$485,000±$18k 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,593±$318 13% above U.S. |
$1,893±$822 34% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$2,138±$406Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Litchfield and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,369 136% above U.S. |
$8,092 159% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$8,273Highest 165% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
81.5%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Litchfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #53 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Auburn School District | North Middlesex | Litchfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Campbell High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.