Compare towns
Deerfield vs Lee vs South Hampton 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%).
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k median).
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.
| Measure | Deerfield | Lee | South Hampton | Northwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932Highest |
4,576 |
984Lowest |
4,688 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8% 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 |
45.1±5.3Highest 4% above NH |
42.4±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
| South Hampton 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% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Lee 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%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest 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% |
52.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Lee and Northwood 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 |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$129,375±$23kLowest 31% above NH |
| South Hampton 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 |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$363,000±$13kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,593±$318 7% above NH |
— | $1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,201±$372Lowest 19% below NH |
| South Hampton and Deerfield 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 |
$9,109 37% above NH |
$5,806Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Lee and South Hampton 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
89% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 6% above NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | — | #24 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Oyster River Coop School District | South Hampton School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy |
| 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.