Compare towns
Keene vs Chatham 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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Chatham has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
Milford has the highest household income ($98k).
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 | Chatham | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
430Lowest |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
48.3±8.6Highest 12% above NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
| Chatham and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±7.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest 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+ | 19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±10Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Chatham and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.4% NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.8%±3.8 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$66,042±$19kLowest 33% below NH |
$97,768±$14kHighest about the NH average |
| Milford and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$362,900±$42k 10% below NH |
$398,800±$20kHighest about the NH average |
| Milford and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
— | $1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$3,690Lowest 45% below NH |
$7,522Highest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Milford and Keene 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% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.3%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 120 in NH | — | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | — | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | — | 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.