Compare towns
Deerfield vs Madbury vs New Boston 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 the most affordable homes ($421k median).
Madbury has the shortest commute (25 min average).
New Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Madbury | New Boston | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932 |
2,203Lowest |
6,165Highest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2 about the NH average |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
38.8±3.4 10% below NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Strafford and Deerfield 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% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
27.2%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and New Boston 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% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Strafford and Deerfield 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% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.4% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±3 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Strafford 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 |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$154,250±$25kHighest 56% above NH |
$122,105±$22kLowest 23% above NH |
| New Boston and Madbury 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 |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$481,100±$59kHighest 20% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| New Boston and Madbury 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 |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,193±$111Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,181 23% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
22.8%±20.5 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 6.8% NH: 7.2% |
4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.3% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
36 min 33% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±6.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Deerfield and New Boston 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 | — | #21 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Oyster River Coop School District | New Boston School District | Strafford 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 | None yet | 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.