Compare towns
Keene vs Atkinson 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
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Keene | Atkinson | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
7,267Lowest |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.7% NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$6,918 4% above NH |
$7,522Highest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Atkinson and Keene 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Timberlane Regional 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 |
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.