Compare towns
Milford vs Durham vs Lee vs Pembroke
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 people working from home (27.6%).
Pembroke has the most affordable homes ($372k 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.
| Measure | Milford | Durham | Lee | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
15,080 |
4,576Lowest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%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 |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
| Lee and Pembroke 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke 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% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Pembroke 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% |
32.2%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% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% 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 |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% 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±$143 4% below NH |
— | $1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
| Milford and Durham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$7,589 14% 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% |
48.4%±21.8 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% |
15% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% 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 |
1969Lowest 10 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 |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 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 | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Oyster River High School | None in town | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.3 |
— | 13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 10 photos → | 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.