Compare towns
Keene vs Marlborough 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).
Marlborough has the oldest population (median age 47.6).
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Marlborough | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
1,048Lowest |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
-2.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
47.6±11.7Highest 10% above NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
| Marlborough 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% |
20.5%±6.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Marlborough 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% |
22.9%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Marlborough 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% |
36.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$67,356±$10kLowest 32% 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 |
$261,700±$44k 35% below NH |
$398,800±$20kHighest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$973±$153Lowest 35% below NH |
$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$6,076Lowest 9% below NH |
$7,522Highest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
40%±17.8Lowest 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% |
7.3% NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 18 yrs older than NH |
1943Lowest 36 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.2%±10.9Lowest 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.