Compare towns
Keene vs Wolfeboro vs Kingston 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).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Kingston has the highest household income ($105k).
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 | Wolfeboro | Kingston | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
6,571 |
6,275Lowest |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
55.5±5.7 28% above NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
| Wolfeboro and Kingston 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% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Kingston 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% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$105,330±$12kHighest 6% above NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
| Kingston 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 |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
| Wolfeboro and Kingston 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 |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
| Milford and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$7,906Highest 19% above NH |
$7,522 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Milford and Kingston 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% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Kingston 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Kingswood Regional High School | Sanborn Regional High School | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
11.1 |
12.9Highest |
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.