Compare towns
Keene vs Merrimack 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).
Merrimack has the most homeowners (88.9%).
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 | Merrimack | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939 |
28,164Highest |
16,337Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.5% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
41.5±2.2Highest 4% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
| Merrimack 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% |
22%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Merrimack 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% |
50.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$127,219±$16kHighest 28% above NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
| Merrimack and Milford 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 |
$458,600±$15kHighest 14% above NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
| Merrimack and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$7,345 10% above NH |
$7,522Highest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest 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% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Merrimack 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 | #58 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Merrimack School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Merrimack High School | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
12.5Highest |
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.