Compare towns
Deerfield vs Lee vs Lyme vs Newmarket
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 homeowners (95.8%).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
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 | Lee | Lyme | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932 |
4,576 |
1,710Lowest |
9,463Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2 about the NH average |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
41.2±1.9Lowest 5% below NH |
| Lyme 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% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest 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% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Newmarket 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 |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$100,845±$13kLowest about the NH average |
| Lyme 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 |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,593±$318 7% above NH |
— | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
| Newmarket and Deerfield 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 |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,734 31% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Newmarket 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% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Lyme 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 | — | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Lyme School District | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | None yet | 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.