Compare towns
Deerfield vs Lee vs Northwood vs Candia
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%).
Northwood has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Candia has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Northwood | Candia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932Highest |
4,576 |
4,688 |
4,134Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2 about the NH average |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
42.4±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Candia 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%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest 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%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Candia 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% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.9% NH: 40.6% |
27.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Candia 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±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$129,375±$23k 31% above NH |
$119,737±$37kLowest 21% 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 |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$363,000±$13kLowest 10% below NH |
$415,600±$46k 3% above 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 |
— | $1,201±$372Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,213±$554 19% below NH |
| Deerfield and Candia 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 |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$5,806Lowest 13% below NH |
$6,100 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2 NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lee and Northwood 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% NH: 7.2% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
89%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
34 min 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4Lowest 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #24 of 120 in NH | #41 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District | Candia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
— |
| 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.