Compare towns
Deerfield vs Milton vs Northwood
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).
Northwood has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Northwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,932Highest |
4,538Lowest |
4,688 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2 about the NH average |
45.7±2.4Highest 6% above NH |
42.4±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Milton and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±5 NH: 18.2% |
18%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Deerfield and Milton 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% |
21.5%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Northwood 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Highest NH: 6% |
| Northwood 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±$10kHighest 33% above NH |
$94,493±$27kLowest 5% below NH |
$129,375±$23k 31% above NH |
| Deerfield and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $421,000±$33kHighest 5% above NH |
$318,400±$34kLowest 21% below NH |
$363,000±$13k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,593±$318Highest 7% above NH |
$1,587±$318 6% above NH |
$1,201±$372Lowest 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 | $7,369Highest 11% above NH |
$5,663Lowest 15% below NH |
$5,806 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.7%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Milton and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
89% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above NH |
33 minLowest 25% above NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Deerfield and Milton 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 | #24 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Milton School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Nute High School | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6Lowest |
11.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.