Compare towns
Deerfield vs Litchfield vs Exeter 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%).
Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Strafford has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Litchfield | Exeter | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932 |
8,499 |
16,151Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2Lowest about the NH average |
43.1±1.7 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Strafford and Exeter 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% |
22.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Litchfield 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% |
14.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Strafford 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 |
$162,036±$11kHighest 64% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $421,000±$33kLowest 5% above NH |
$485,000±$18kHighest 20% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Litchfield and Exeter 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 |
$2,138±$406Highest 43% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Litchfield and Exeter 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 |
$8,273 24% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Litchfield 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% |
1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Deerfield and Litchfield 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 | #53 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Litchfield School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Campbell High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 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.