Compare towns
Deerfield vs Lee vs Strafford vs Brentwood
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).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Brentwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932Highest |
4,576 |
4,306Lowest |
4,641 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2Lowest about the NH average |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Strafford and Brentwood 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% |
21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Brentwood 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% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Brentwood 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,563±$10k 33% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$122,105±$22kLowest 23% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
| Brentwood 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 |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$528,100±$75kHighest 31% above NH |
| Brentwood and Lee 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 |
— | $1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
| Brentwood 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 |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$9,713Highest 46% above 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% |
63.9%±37.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Brentwood 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Brentwood 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 | #16 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Strafford School District | Brentwood 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 | 6 photos → |
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.