Compare towns
Deerfield vs Lee vs Nottingham 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
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Nottingham has the youngest population (median age 38.8).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Nottingham | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932 |
4,576 |
5,357Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.3% NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2 about the NH average |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
38.8±6.7Lowest 10% below NH |
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% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham and Lee 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% |
18.4%±4.2 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% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.9% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Nottingham 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 |
$122,201±$20k 23% above NH |
$122,105±$22kLowest 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±$33kLowest 5% above NH |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$457,500±$26k 14% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Lee and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,593±$318Lowest 7% above NH |
— | $2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Nottingham and Strafford 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 |
$7,319 10% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Strafford 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
94.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
34 min 27% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Nottingham 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 | 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.