Compare towns
Milford vs Ashland vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Ashland | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
2,183Lowest |
10,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
| Ashland and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
| Durham and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522 13% above NH |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min 4% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #55 of 120 in NH | — | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Ashland School District | — |
| High school in town | Milford High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.