Compare towns
Deerfield vs Lee vs Strafford vs Allenstown
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%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
Allenstown has the most affordable homes ($244k 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 | Strafford | Allenstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932Highest |
4,576 |
4,306Lowest |
4,743 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+8.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2 about the NH average |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
39.4±4.7Lowest 9% below 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%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4.5 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%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.8Lowest 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% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
19.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.7%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,563±$10k 33% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$72,500±$21kLowest 27% below 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 |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$243,600±$69kLowest 39% below NH |
| Lee and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,593±$318 7% above NH |
— | $1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,281±$397Lowest 14% below NH |
| Strafford 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 |
$6,086 9% below NH |
$4,098Lowest 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
57.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Allenstown 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% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
80.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Strafford School District | Allenstown 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.