Compare towns
Chatham vs Milford vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chatham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Milford has the highest household income ($98k).
Stow has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Chatham | Milford | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 430Lowest |
16,337Highest |
535 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6 24% above U.S. |
36.8±2.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
57±10.5Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Stow and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±7.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Milford and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±10 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
37.9%±17.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stow and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chatham and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,042±$19k 18% below U.S. |
$97,768±$14kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$42,204±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Milford and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42k 9% above U.S. |
$398,800±$20kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$326,400±$42kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Milford and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,661±$126 18% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,690 18% above U.S. |
$7,522Highest 141% above U.S. |
$3,304Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Milford and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1998Highest 18 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 35% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
51 minHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±12Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stow and Milford 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 | — | #55 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Milford School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Milford High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.