Compare towns
Lee vs Canterbury vs Cornish 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 people working from home (27.6%).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k 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 | Canterbury | Cornish | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
2,353 |
1,816Lowest |
4,932Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
48.6±3.8 12% above NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
42.8±4.2Lowest about the NH average |
| Cornish and Canterbury 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% |
17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest 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% |
22.9%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.5%±3.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish and Canterbury 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% |
49.3% NH: 40.6% |
40.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
47.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Lee 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 |
$129,333±$37k 31% above NH |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% 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 |
$443,700±$21k 10% above NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
$421,000±$33k 5% above NH |
| Lee and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,593±$318 7% above NH |
| Canterbury and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$7,421 11% above NH |
$5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
$7,369 11% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Cornish 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% |
5.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.7% NH: 72.8% |
94.1% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
33 min 22% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
34 minHighest 28% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.4%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | — | — | #61 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Shaker Regional School District | Cornish School District | Deerfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | 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.