Compare towns
Deerfield vs Keene vs Lee vs Northwood
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%).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
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 | Keene | Lee | Northwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932 |
22,939Highest |
4,576Lowest |
4,688 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2 about the NH average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
42.4±7.8 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±4.4 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%±3.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Northwood 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% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,563±$10k 33% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$129,375±$23k 31% 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 |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$363,000±$13k 10% below NH |
| Lee and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,593±$318Highest 7% above NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
— | $1,201±$372Lowest 19% below NH |
| Deerfield and Keene 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 |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$5,806Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Keene 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% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
89% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1970 9 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #24 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Keene School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
— | 11.5Lowest |
| 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.