Compare towns

Milford vs Durham vs Lee 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Milford has the most affordable homes ($358k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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.

MeasureMilfordDurhamLeeMilford
People
Population
16,337Highest
15,080
4,576Lowest
8,956
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.8%
NH: +4.6%
+4.4%
NH: +4.6%
+4.3%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
36.8±2.5
15% below NH
20.8±0.3Lowest
52% below NH
42.9±1.9Highest
about the NH average
36.7±3.7
15% below NH
Kids under 18
23.7%±3.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
10.3%±2.1Lowest
NH: 18.2%
21.9%±5.6
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%±1.9
NH: 20.1%
11.5%±1.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
22.6%±6.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
18.1%±2.5
NH: 20.1%
Lee 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%
75.4%Highest
NH: 40.6%
50.6%
NH: 40.6%
33.6%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±1.3
NH: 6%
55.1%±3.2Highest
NH: 6%
5.4%±2.6
NH: 6%
3.3%±1.7Lowest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,768±$14k
about the NH average
$124,056±$21k
25% above NH
$131,579±$54kHighest
33% above NH
$78,684±$11kLowest
21% below NH
Lee 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
$504,300±$41kHighest
25% above NH
$480,600±$61k
19% above NH
$357,800±$16kLowest
11% below NH
Durham and Lee 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
$1,429±$143Lowest
4% below NH
—
$1,557±$120
4% above NH
Milford and Milford 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
$9,661
45% above NH
$6,978Lowest
5% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.6%±15.8
NH: 48.2%
66.4%±16Highest
NH: 48.2%
38.3%±53.3Lowest
NH: 48.2%
48.2%±10.7
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%
15.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
2.6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
5.9%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.9%
NH: 72.8%
64.4%
NH: 72.8%
95.8%Highest
NH: 72.8%
59.4%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
3 yrs newer than NH
1981
2 yrs newer than NH
1987Highest
8 yrs newer than NH
1976Lowest
3 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the NH average
19 minLowest
27% below NH
28 minHighest
about the NH average
26 min
about the NH average
Work from home
15.6%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
19.4%±3.5
NH: 16.8%
27.6%±8.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
12.1%±3.9Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Lee and Durham 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 #9 of 120 in NH #3 of 120 in NH #55 of 120 in NH
School district Milford School District Oyster River Coop School District Oyster River Coop School District —
High school in town Milford High School Oyster River High School None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Lowest
12.3Highest
— —
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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.