Compare towns
Derry vs Keene vs Lyndeborough 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
Derry has the most expensive homes ($432k median).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Lyndeborough has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Derry | Keene | Lyndeborough | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
22,939 |
1,616Lowest |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyndeborough and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$116,964±$17kHighest 18% above NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
| Lyndeborough and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kHighest 7% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$390,900±$26k about the NH average |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
| Derry and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,482±$457 about the NH average |
$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
| Milford and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$7,133 7% above NH |
$7,522 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyndeborough and Derry 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | — | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Keene School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Keene High School | None in town | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.3 |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.