Compare towns
Keene vs Exeter vs Stratham 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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Milford has the youngest population (median age 36.8).
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 | Exeter | Stratham | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
16,151 |
7,754Lowest |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
| Exeter and Stratham 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% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Stratham 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$7,522 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Exeter 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Exeter High School | None in town | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
12.1 |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.