Compare towns
Milford vs Bennington vs Derry
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Derry has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Bennington | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,337 |
1,588Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
42.1±7.8Highest about the NH average |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
| Bennington and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Derry 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±$14k about the NH average |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$108,944±$7kHighest 10% above NH |
| Derry 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 |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$432,000±$17kHighest 7% above NH |
| Derry and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
| Milford and Derry 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 |
$5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest 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 | 3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Derry and Milford 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | — | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | None in town | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 13.9Highest |
| 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.