Compare towns

Deerfield vs Plaistow 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%).
Plaistow has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Northwood has the most affordable homes ($363k median).

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.

MeasureDeerfieldPlaistowNorthwood
People
Population
4,932
7,861Highest
4,688Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+2.9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+9.4%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
42.8±4.2Highest
about the NH average
40.1±3.7Lowest
7% below NH
42.4±7.8
about the NH average
Deerfield and Northwood 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%
19.8%±4.3
NH: 18.2%
18%±4.4Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Deerfield and Plaistow 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%±3.7Lowest
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%
34.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
38.9%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.8
NH: 6%
3.3%±1.4Lowest
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
$108,317±$13kLowest
9% above 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
$404,500±$32k
about the NH average
$363,000±$13kLowest
10% below NH
Deerfield and Plaistow 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
$1,664±$187Highest
12% above NH
$1,201±$372Lowest
19% below NH
Plaistow and Deerfield 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
$7,194
8% above NH
$5,806Lowest
13% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
17.4%±17.6Lowest
NH: 48.2%
55.3%±16.9Highest
NH: 48.2%
23.7%±29.2
NH: 48.2%
Plaistow and Northwood 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%
4.5%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
7.5%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
78.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
89%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
6 yrs newer than NH
1978
1 yr older than NH
1970Lowest
9 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
28% above NH
29 minLowest
7% above NH
37 minHighest
37% above NH
Work from home
22.4%±6.3Highest
NH: 16.8%
13.6%±4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
18.7%±6.8
NH: 16.8%
Deerfield and Northwood 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 #66 of 120 in NH #24 of 120 in NH
School district Deerfield School District Timberlane Regional School District Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District
High school in town None in town Timberlane Regional High School Coe-Brown Northwood Academy
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.4Lowest
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.