Compare towns
Keene vs Norwich vs Durham vs Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Norwich | Durham | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
3,640Lowest |
15,080 |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2Highest 5% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
36.8±2.5 5% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.1%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Keene and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$97,768±$14k 21% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$398,800±$20k 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,661±$126Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Milford and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812Lowest 118% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,522 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich and Durham 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #9 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Norwich School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | Oyster River High School | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 12.3Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.