Compare towns
Keene vs Nelson 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).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Nelson | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
648Lowest |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
42.3±11.7Highest about the NH average |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
| Nelson 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Milford 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% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
| Nelson 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 |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$398,800±$20kHighest about the NH average |
| Milford and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$7,522Highest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest 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 | Nelson School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | 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.