Compare towns
Deerfield vs Portsmouth 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%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
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.
| Measure | Deerfield | Portsmouth | Northwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,932 |
22,545Highest |
4,688Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2 about the NH average |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
42.4±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Portsmouth 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% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Deerfield and Northwood 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%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Northwood 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% |
38.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,563±$10kHighest 33% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% 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±$33k 5% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$363,000±$13kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,593±$318 7% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,201±$372Lowest 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 |
$5,806Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
89% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1970 9 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8Lowest 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 | #24 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Portsmouth School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Portsmouth 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.