Compare towns
Amherst vs Hollis vs Keene vs Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Amherst | Hollis | Keene | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,861 |
8,603Lowest |
22,939Highest |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
49.4±5Highest 14% above NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
| Hollis and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
21%±4 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hollis and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.3% NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
$168,883±$22kHighest 71% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
| Hollis and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$675,900±$48kHighest 68% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,598±$302 7% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
| Milford and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$7,522 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
31.3%±19.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Milford and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
29%±6.4 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Hollis 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 | #20 of 120 in NH | #8 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | Keene School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Hollis-Brookline High School | Keene High School | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.8 |
12.3Highest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.