Compare towns
Ashland vs Keene vs Milford vs Newmarket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Newmarket has the most expensive homes ($455k 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 | Ashland | Keene | Milford | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
22,939Highest |
16,337 |
9,463 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
| Ashland and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
49.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$100,845±$13kHighest about the NH average |
| Newmarket and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$455,000±$22kHighest 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
| Newmarket and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$7,522 13% above NH |
$8,734Highest 31% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Milford and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Newmarket and Keene 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Keene School District | Milford School District | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | Milford High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
10.7 |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.