Compare towns
Lee vs Bethlehem vs Deerfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most expensive homes ($481k median).
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k median).
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | Lee | Bethlehem | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576 |
2,537Lowest |
4,932Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH |
42.8±4.2Lowest about the NH average |
| Bethlehem and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±4.1 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+ | 22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.5%±3.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bethlehem and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
47.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Lee and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$131,563±$10k 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 | $480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$421,000±$33k 5% above NH |
| Lee and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
$1,593±$318Highest 7% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$5,418Lowest 19% below NH |
$7,369 11% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bethlehem and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
34 minHighest 28% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.4%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #34 of 120 in NH | #61 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Deerfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Profile Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | 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.