Compare towns

Henniker vs Keene vs Milford vs Somersworth

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Somersworth has the oldest population (median age 38.4).
Henniker is a college town. 27% 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.

MeasureHennikerKeeneMilfordSomersworth
People
Population
6,197Lowest
22,939Highest
16,337
12,111
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+27.9%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-1.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+6.7%
NH: +4.6%
+0.8%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
31.1±6.1Lowest
28% below NH
37.6±2.3
13% below NH
36.8±2.5
15% below NH
38.4±2.7Highest
11% below NH
Somersworth and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.3%±3.7
NH: 18.2%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
23.7%±3.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
19.9%±4
NH: 18.2%
Milford and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.5%±6
NH: 20.1%
19.5%±1.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
15.1%±1.9
NH: 20.1%
14%±3Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Keene and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.4%
NH: 40.6%
44.1%Highest
NH: 40.6%
37.2%
NH: 40.6%
31.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
27%±6.5Highest
NH: 6%
13.8%±1.4
NH: 6%
4.2%±1.3Lowest
NH: 6%
4.9%±2
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,206±$21k
4% below NH
$78,445±$8k
21% below NH
$97,768±$14kHighest
about the NH average
$74,504±$13kLowest
25% below NH
Milford and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$356,700±$49k
11% below NH
$252,500±$12kLowest
37% below NH
$398,800±$20kHighest
about the NH average
$318,400±$23k
21% below NH
Milford and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,081±$164Lowest
27% below NH
$1,342±$68
10% below NH
$1,661±$126Highest
11% above NH
$1,477±$134
about the NH average
Milford and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,877Highest
33% above NH
$6,812
about the NH average
$7,522
13% above NH
$6,805Lowest
about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.5%±22.6Lowest
NH: 48.2%
44.5%±6.1
NH: 48.2%
49.6%±15.8
NH: 48.2%
56.3%±14.7Highest
NH: 48.2%
Somersworth and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
10.1%
NH: 7.2%
3.9%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
11.2%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.5%
NH: 72.8%
55.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
64.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
57.8%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
5 yrs older than NH
1961Lowest
18 yrs older than NH
1982Highest
3 yrs newer than NH
1967
12 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
24% below NH
17 minLowest
36% below NH
27 minHighest
about the NH average
26 min
3% below NH
Work from home
15.5%±5.6
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±2.7Highest
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±3.3Highest
NH: 16.8%
11.7%±3.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #56 of 120 in NH #81 of 120 in NH #55 of 120 in NH #117 of 120 in NH
School district Henniker School District Keene School District Milford School District Somersworth School District
High school in town None in town Keene High School Milford High School Somersworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.3Highest
10.7Lowest
11.4
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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.