Compare towns
Milford vs Durham vs Amherst vs Lyndeborough
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 kids (23.7% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Amherst | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
10,681 |
11,861 |
1,616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
| Lyndeborough and Amherst 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% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Amherst 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% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyndeborough and Amherst 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
65.7% NH: 40.6% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$116,964±$17k 18% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$390,900±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Amherst and Durham 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 |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,482±$457 about the NH average |
| Milford and Lyndeborough 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
$7,133Lowest 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #55 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Milford School District | — | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | — | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
— | 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.