Compare towns
Deerfield vs Strafford vs Mason
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%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
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 | Strafford | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,932Highest |
4,306 |
1,451Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2Lowest about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
| Strafford and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Deerfield 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% |
19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Strafford 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 |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$111,090±$3kLowest 12% 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 |
$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below 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±$318Lowest 7% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
| Mason and Strafford 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 |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$7,049 6% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Strafford 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% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 28% above NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Deerfield and Mason 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Strafford School District | Mason School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.