Compare towns
Deerfield vs Henniker vs Lee vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
Henniker is a college town. 27% 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 | Henniker | Lee | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932 |
6,197Highest |
4,576 |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4% NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2 about the NH average |
31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Strafford and Lee 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% |
15.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 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% |
16.5%±6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 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% |
41.4% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,563±$10k 33% above NH |
$95,206±$21kLowest 4% below NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| Lee and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $421,000±$33k 5% above NH |
$356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Lee and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,593±$318 7% above NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
— | $1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
| Strafford and Deerfield 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 |
$8,877 33% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Henniker 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% |
11.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% NH: 72.8% |
64.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 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 | #56 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Henniker School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Strafford 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 | 10 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.