Compare towns
Milford vs Bow vs Lyndeborough 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
Milford has the youngest population (median age 36.8).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Bow | Lyndeborough | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
8,335 |
1,616Lowest |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow 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% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyndeborough and Keene 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% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$116,964±$17k 18% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$390,900±$26k about the NH average |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,482±$457 about the NH average |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Milford and Bow 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 |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$7,133 7% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Milford and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Lyndeborough 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | — | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Bow School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Bow High School | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | 12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.