Compare towns
Deerfield vs New Boston vs Strafford vs Auburn
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).
New Boston has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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 | New Boston | Strafford | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932 |
6,165Highest |
4,306Lowest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4% NH: +4.6% |
+14.8% NH: +4.6% |
+6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2 about the NH average |
38.8±3.4Lowest 10% below NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Strafford and Auburn 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% |
27.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| New Boston 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% |
17%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest 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% |
44.4% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Auburn 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 |
$154,250±$25kHighest 56% above NH |
$122,105±$22kLowest 23% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
| New Boston and Auburn 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 |
$481,100±$59k 20% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,593±$318 7% above NH |
$1,193±$111Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
| Auburn and Strafford 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 |
$8,181Highest 23% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
22.8%±20.5 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Auburn 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% |
6.3% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% NH: 72.8% |
88%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above NH |
36 min 33% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±6.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn 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 | #21 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | New Boston School District | Strafford School District | Auburn 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.