Compare towns
Milford vs Barrington vs Amherst
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 renters (35.1% rent).
Barrington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Barrington | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
9,489Lowest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
38.7±2.3 11% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Amherst and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.4% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Barrington and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$399,100±$30k about the NH average |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
| Barrington and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522 13% above NH |
$7,121Lowest 7% above NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington 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% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 13% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #55 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Barrington School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
— | 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.