Compare towns

Deerfield vs Lee vs Hopkinton 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%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Hopkinton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Northwood has the most affordable homes ($363k median).

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.

MeasureDeerfieldLeeHopkintonNorthwood
People
Population
4,932
4,576Lowest
6,037Highest
4,688
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+4.4%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.8%
NH: +4.6%
+9.4%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
42.8±4.2
about the NH average
42.9±1.9
about the NH average
45±2.8Highest
4% above NH
42.4±7.8Lowest
about the NH average
Hopkinton 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%
21.9%±5.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
18.8%±4.1
NH: 18.2%
18%±4.4Lowest
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%
22.6%±6.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
19.9%±4.2
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%
50.6%
NH: 40.6%
58.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
38.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.8Lowest
NH: 6%
5.4%±2.6
NH: 6%
7.9%±4.4Highest
NH: 6%
3.8%±2
NH: 6%
Hopkinton 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
$131,579±$54k
33% above NH
$137,477±$21kHighest
39% above NH
$129,375±$23kLowest
31% above NH
Hopkinton 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±$33k
5% above NH
$480,600±$61k
19% above NH
$506,900±$54kHighest
26% above NH
$363,000±$13kLowest
10% below NH
Hopkinton and Lee 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
—
$1,270±$129
15% below NH
$1,201±$372Lowest
19% below NH
Deerfield and Hopkinton 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
$9,661
45% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$5,806Lowest
13% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
17.4%±17.6Lowest
NH: 48.2%
38.3%±53.3
NH: 48.2%
42.4%±6Highest
NH: 48.2%
23.7%±29.2
NH: 48.2%
Hopkinton 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%
2.6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
6.5%
NH: 7.2%
7.5%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.3%
NH: 72.8%
95.8%Highest
NH: 72.8%
87.3%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
89%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
6 yrs newer than NH
1987Highest
8 yrs newer than NH
1968Lowest
11 yrs older than NH
1970
9 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
28% above NH
28 min
about the NH average
22 minLowest
17% below NH
37 minHighest
37% above NH
Work from home
22.4%±6.3
NH: 16.8%
27.6%±8.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
23.8%±8.8
NH: 16.8%
18.7%±6.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Lee and Hopkinton 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 #3 of 120 in NH #28 of 120 in NH #24 of 120 in NH
School district Deerfield School District Oyster River Coop School District Hopkinton School District Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District
High school in town None in town None in town Hopkinton High School Coe-Brown Northwood Academy
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.0Highest
11.5Lowest
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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.