Compare towns
Lee vs Derry vs Rye 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 homeowners (95.8%).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Derry | Rye | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
34,116Highest |
5,611 |
4,932 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
42.8±4.2 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±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% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.5%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Rye 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% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
47.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Derry 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±$54k 33% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$131,563±$10k 33% above NH |
| Rye and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$421,000±$33kLowest 5% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,593±$318 7% above NH |
| Rye 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 |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$7,369Lowest 11% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Rye 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the NH average |
31 min 16% above NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
34 minHighest 28% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.4%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #61 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Rye School District | Deerfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9 |
— | — |
| 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.