Compare towns
Amherst vs Milford vs Newmarket vs Swanzey
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%).
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Swanzey has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
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 | Milford | Newmarket | Swanzey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,861 |
16,337Highest |
9,463 |
7,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
| Swanzey 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2 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% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.2%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Swanzey 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% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newmarket and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$81,595±$11kLowest 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
$1,508±$303 about the NH average |
| Newmarket and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$7,522 13% above NH |
$8,734 31% above NH |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Milford 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% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
71.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
28 min 6% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH | #39 of 120 in NH | #102 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Milford School District | Newmarket School District | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Milford High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Monadnock Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
10.7 |
9.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.