Compare towns

Deerfield vs Portsmouth vs Candia

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%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Candia has the oldest population (median age 48.3).

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.

MeasureDeerfieldPortsmouthCandia
People
Population
4,932
22,545Highest
4,134Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.7%
NH: +4.6%
+2.7%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
42.8±4.2Lowest
about the NH average
42.9±2
about the NH average
48.3±3.8Highest
12% above NH
Candia and Portsmouth 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%
14%±1.9
NH: 18.2%
12.8%±3.5Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
17.5%±3.5Lowest
NH: 20.1%
21.9%±2.4
NH: 20.1%
23.1%±4.4Highest
NH: 20.1%
Candia and Portsmouth 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%
64%Highest
NH: 40.6%
27.7%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.8Lowest
NH: 6%
3.8%±1.2
NH: 6%
5.7%±2.6Highest
NH: 6%
Candia and Portsmouth 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
$106,219±$7kLowest
7% above NH
$119,737±$37k
21% above NH
Deerfield and Candia 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
$688,500±$39kHighest
71% above NH
$415,600±$46kLowest
3% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,593±$318
7% above NH
$1,869±$111Highest
25% above NH
$1,213±$554Lowest
19% below NH
Portsmouth and Deerfield 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
$8,018Highest
20% above NH
$6,100Lowest
9% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
17.4%±17.6
NH: 48.2%
50.4%±7.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
0%±21.6Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line
6.8%Highest
NH: 7.2%
6.8%Highest
NH: 7.2%
1.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.3%
NH: 72.8%
51.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
91.7%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
6 yrs newer than NH
1959Lowest
20 yrs older than NH
1979
same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
28% above NH
22 minLowest
17% below NH
34 minHighest
29% above NH
Work from home
22.4%±6.3Highest
NH: 16.8%
21.9%±4
NH: 16.8%
10.8%±4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Deerfield and Portsmouth 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 #11 of 120 in NH #41 of 120 in NH
School district Deerfield School District Portsmouth School District Candia School District
High school in town None in town Portsmouth High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.4
—
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.