Compare towns
Milford vs Dover vs Keene vs Milford
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 homeowners (64.9%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Milford has the youngest population (median age 36.7).
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 | Dover | Keene | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
33,364Highest |
22,939 |
8,956Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
37.6±2.3Highest 13% below NH |
36.7±3.7Lowest 15% below NH |
| Keene and Dover 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% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford 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% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.1%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14kHighest about the NH average |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$78,684±$11k 21% below NH |
| Milford and Dover 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 |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$357,800±$16k 11% below NH |
| Dover 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 |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,557±$120 4% above NH |
| Milford and Dover 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 |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$6,978 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.2%±10.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Milford and Dover 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% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
59.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
23 min 15% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Dover School District | Keene School District | — |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Dover Senior High School | Keene High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.7Highest |
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.