Compare towns

Jackson vs Milford vs Chatham

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jackson has the most expensive homes ($719k median).
Milford has the youngest population (median age 36.8).
Chatham has the most affordable homes ($363k median).

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.

MeasureJacksonMilfordChatham
People
Population
897
16,337Highest
430Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+26%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+6.7%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
—
Median age
60.5±2.5Highest
40% above NH
36.8±2.5Lowest
15% below NH
48.3±8.6
12% above NH
Kids under 18
4.1%±4.1Lowest
NH: 18.2%
23.7%±3.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
21.4%±7.4
NH: 18.2%
Milford and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28.4%±6.4Highest
NH: 20.1%
15.1%±1.9Lowest
NH: 20.1%
26.5%±10
NH: 20.1%
Jackson and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
67.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
37.2%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
38.4%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±3.4Lowest
NH: 6%
4.2%±1.3
NH: 6%
5.8%±3.8Highest
NH: 6%
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
$117,986±$46kHighest
19% above NH
$97,768±$14k
about the NH average
$66,042±$19kLowest
33% below NH
Jackson and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$719,300±$109kHighest
79% above NH
$398,800±$20k
about the NH average
$362,900±$42kLowest
10% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,750±$1kHighest
17% above NH
$1,661±$126Lowest
11% above NH
—
Jackson and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,001
10% below NH
$7,522Highest
13% above NH
$3,690Lowest
45% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
21.1%±59.9Lowest
NH: 48.2%
49.6%±15.8Highest
NH: 48.2%
33.3%±100
NH: 48.2%
Milford and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.9%Highest
NH: 7.2%
3.9%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
8.1%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.4%Highest
NH: 72.8%
64.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
82.8%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
1 yr newer than NH
1982Highest
3 yrs newer than NH
1979Lowest
same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
31% below NH
27 min
about the NH average
36 minHighest
33% above NH
Work from home
22.2%±10.2Highest
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
7.3%±5.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Jackson 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 Jackson School District Milford School District —
High school in town None 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

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.