Compare towns
Durham vs Keene vs Madbury 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Madbury has the highest household income ($148k).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Keene | Madbury | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
22,939Highest |
2,203Lowest |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
37.7±2.1Highest 13% below NH |
36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
| Madbury and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
| Madbury and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
| Durham and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
| Milford and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,522 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | — | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Keene School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | — | Keene High School | None in town | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
— | 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.