Compare towns
Keene vs Portsmouth vs Brookline 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).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Milford has the youngest population (median age 36.8).
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 | Portsmouth | Brookline | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
22,545 |
5,736Lowest |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline 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% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth 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% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
| Brookline and Portsmouth 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 |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,522 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth 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% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 18 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Portsmouth 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Portsmouth School District | Brookline School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Portsmouth High School | None in town | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
11.4 |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.