Compare towns
Milford vs Derry vs Amherst
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
Bordering MilfordMilford
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milford has the most affordable homes ($358k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Milford | Derry | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,956Lowest |
34,116Highest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.7±3.7Lowest 15% below NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Amherst and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,684±$11kLowest 21% below NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,800±$16kLowest 11% below NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,557±$120Highest 4% above NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
| Milford and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,978Lowest 5% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.2%±10.7 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
31 min 16% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #55 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | Pinkerton Academy | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.