Compare towns
Keene vs Milford vs Hampton
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).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | Milford | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
16,337Lowest |
16,426 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$97,768±$14kHighest about the NH average |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
| Milford and Hampton 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 |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
| Milford and Hampton 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 |
$7,522Highest 13% above NH |
$6,813 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Milford School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Milford High School | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
10.7 |
10.1Lowest |
| 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.