Compare towns
Milford vs Derry vs Brookline 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Brookline | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
34,116Highest |
5,736Lowest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Amherst and Brookline 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% |
20.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Milford 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% |
15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Derry 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 |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
| Brookline and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
| Brookline and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9 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% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
31 min 16% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Brookline School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
13.9Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.