Compare towns
Milford vs Durham vs Keene vs Hooksett
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).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Keene | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
10,681Lowest |
22,939Highest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
| Hooksett and Keene 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% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Hooksett 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% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Hooksett 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% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
| Hooksett and Durham 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 |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522 13% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest 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% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #55 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | — | Keene School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | — | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
— |
| 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.