Compare towns
Ashland vs Milford vs Keene
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 oldest population (median age 42.3).
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Milford | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
16,337 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Ashland and Keene 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest 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% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 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% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$97,768±$14kHighest about the NH average |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
| Milford and Keene 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 |
$398,800±$20kHighest about the NH average |
$252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$7,522Highest 13% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 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 | 21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #55 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Milford School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Milford High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.