Compare towns

Milford vs Durham vs Milford vs Derry

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).
Milford has the most affordable homes ($358k median).
Derry has the oldest population (median age 40.3).
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.

MeasureMilfordDurhamMilfordDerry
People
Population
16,337
15,080
8,956Lowest
34,116Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.8%
NH: +4.6%
+4.3%
NH: +4.6%
+3.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
36.8±2.5
15% below NH
20.8±0.3Lowest
52% below NH
36.7±3.7
15% below NH
40.3±1.6Highest
7% below NH
Derry and Milford 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%
10.3%±2.1Lowest
NH: 18.2%
23.2%±4
NH: 18.2%
20.7%±2.1
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%
18.1%±2.5Highest
NH: 20.1%
15.2%±1.6
NH: 20.1%
Milford and Derry 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%
33.6%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
37.4%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±1.3
NH: 6%
55.1%±3.2Highest
NH: 6%
3.3%±1.7Lowest
NH: 6%
6.1%±1.5
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,768±$14k
about the NH average
$124,056±$21kHighest
25% above NH
$78,684±$11kLowest
21% below NH
$108,944±$7k
10% above NH
Durham and Derry 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
$357,800±$16kLowest
11% below NH
$432,000±$17k
7% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,661±$126Highest
11% above NH
$1,429±$143Lowest
4% below NH
$1,557±$120
4% above NH
$1,547±$138
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
$6,978Lowest
5% above NH
$8,103
22% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.6%±15.8
NH: 48.2%
66.4%±16Highest
NH: 48.2%
48.2%±10.7Lowest
NH: 48.2%
51.6%±9
NH: 48.2%
Durham and Derry 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%
15.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
5.9%
NH: 7.2%
4%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.9%
NH: 72.8%
64.4%
NH: 72.8%
59.4%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
70.2%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
3 yrs newer than NH
1981
2 yrs newer than NH
1976Lowest
3 yrs older than NH
1983Highest
4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the NH average
19 minLowest
27% below NH
26 min
about the NH average
31 minHighest
16% above NH
Work from home
15.6%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
19.4%±3.5Highest
NH: 16.8%
12.1%±3.9Lowest
NH: 16.8%
16%±2.8
NH: 16.8%
Durham and Derry 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 #55 of 120 in NH #60 of 120 in NH
School district Milford School District Oyster River Coop School District — Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District
High school in town Milford High School Oyster River High School — Pinkerton Academy
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Lowest
12.3
—
13.9Highest
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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.