Compare towns
Keene vs Salem 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).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Salem | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939 |
30,964Highest |
16,337Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
| Salem 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 |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
| Milford and Salem 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 |
$6,992 5% above NH |
$7,522Highest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest 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% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Salem 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Salem School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Salem High School | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
11.2 |
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.