Compare towns
Lyme vs Milford vs Keene
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
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 | Lyme | Milford | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
16,337 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Milford and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,522 13% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #55 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Milford School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Milford High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| 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.