Compare towns
Deerfield vs Durham vs Hanover 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Durham has the most renters (46.4% rent).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Durham | Hanover | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932 |
10,681Highest |
8,479 |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2 about the NH average |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
21.8±0.3 50% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
| Lee and Deerfield 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% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2 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% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,563±$10k 33% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
| Hanover 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 |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,593±$318 7% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,369Lowest 11% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
62.4% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
19 min 29% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Hanover 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | — | — | Oyster River Coop 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 | 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.