Compare towns
Deerfield vs Townsend vs Lee vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
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.
| Measure | Deerfield | Townsend | Lee | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932 |
9,100Highest |
4,576 |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2 10% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,563±$10k 63% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22k 51% above U.S. |
| 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 27% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
| Lee and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,593±$318 13% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
— | $1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,369 136% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
36 min 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #3 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | North Middlesex | Oyster River Coop School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.