Compare towns
Deerfield vs Strafford 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%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Strafford | Northwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,932Highest |
4,306Lowest |
4,688 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2 about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
42.4±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
| 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% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest 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% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Northwood and Strafford 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% |
38.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Northwood 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±$22kLowest 23% 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 |
$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
$363,000±$13kLowest 10% 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±$318 7% above NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,201±$372Lowest 19% below 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 |
$6,086 9% below NH |
$5,806Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
89%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 28% above NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Deerfield and Northwood 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 | #24 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Strafford School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
| 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.