Compare towns

Lee vs Derby vs Deerfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k 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.

MeasureLeeDerbyDeerfield
People
Population
4,576
4,537Lowest
4,932Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+13.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.9±1.9
10% above U.S.
51.6±2.1Highest
33% above U.S.
42.8±4.2Lowest
10% above U.S.
Kids under 18
21.9%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
27.2%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.5%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Derby 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
U.S.: 35.7%
36.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
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
63% above U.S.
$80,250±$8kLowest
about the U.S. average
$131,563±$10k
63% 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
$480,600±$61kHighest
44% above U.S.
$225,000±$10kLowest
32% below U.S.
$421,000±$33k
27% above U.S.
Lee and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,096±$118Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,593±$318Highest
13% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,661Highest
210% above U.S.
$3,449Lowest
11% above U.S.
$7,369
136% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.3%±53.3
U.S.: 51.1%
45.8%±18.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
17.4%±17.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Derby 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
U.S.: 12.5%
7.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
4% above U.S.
32 min
23% above U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
Work from home
27.6%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.6%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.4%±6.3
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 #3 of 120 in NH #52 of 70 in VT #61 of 120 in NH
School district Oyster River Coop School District Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District Deerfield School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 10 photos → None yet 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.