Compare towns
Deerfield vs Lee vs Swanzey
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%).
Swanzey has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Swanzey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,932 |
4,576Lowest |
7,398Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2Lowest about the NH average |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2Lowest 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% |
24.2%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Swanzey 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% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lee and Deerfield 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 |
$81,595±$11kLowest 18% 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 |
$259,200±$15kLowest 36% below 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 |
— | $1,508±$303Lowest about the NH average |
| Deerfield and Swanzey 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 |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Lee 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% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±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 | #102 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Monadnock Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.