Compare towns
Deerfield vs Portsmouth vs Lee
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).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Portsmouth | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,932 |
22,545Highest |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2Lowest about the NH average |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±3.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Lee 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±$10k 33% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
| Lee and Deerfield 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 |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,593±$318Lowest 7% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
— |
| Portsmouth and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,369Lowest 11% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Portsmouth School District | Oyster River Coop 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 | 10 photos → |
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.