Compare towns
Deerfield vs Plymouth 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Plymouth has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Plymouth | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,932 |
6,601Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2 about the NH average |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% 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%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Deerfield and Strafford 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% |
12%±2.7Lowest 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% |
54%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,563±$10kHighest 33% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| Deerfield and Strafford 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 |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
| Strafford and Deerfield 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 |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% 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 | $7,369Highest 11% above NH |
$6,288 6% below NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Deerfield and Strafford 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.