Compare towns
Deerfield vs Exeter vs Litchfield 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%).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Exeter | Litchfield | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932 |
16,151Highest |
8,499 |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2Lowest about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
43.1±1.7 about the NH average |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
| Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Litchfield and Lee 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Lee 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% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Lee 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 |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$162,036±$11kHighest 64% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
| Litchfield 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 |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$485,000±$18kHighest 20% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
| Litchfield and Lee 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 |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,138±$406Highest 43% above NH |
— |
| Litchfield and Exeter 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 |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$8,273 24% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Litchfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #53 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Litchfield School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Campbell High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.4Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.