Compare towns
Deerfield vs Milton vs Candia vs Lee
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%).
Milton has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Candia has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Milton | Candia | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932Highest |
4,538 |
4,134Lowest |
4,576 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2Lowest about the NH average |
45.7±2.4 6% above NH |
48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
| Candia and Milton 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% |
18.4%±5 NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest 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% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Candia 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% |
21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
27.7% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Candia and Lee 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 |
$94,493±$27kLowest 5% below NH |
$119,737±$37k 21% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above 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 |
$318,400±$34kLowest 21% below NH |
$415,600±$46k 3% above NH |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above 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 |
$1,587±$318 6% above NH |
$1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
— |
| Deerfield and Milton 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 |
$5,663Lowest 15% below NH |
$6,100 9% below NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6 NH: 48.2% |
63.7%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Milton 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% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest 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 | #116 of 120 in NH | #41 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Milton School District | Candia School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Nute High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 10 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.