Compare towns

Milford vs Durham vs Windham vs Keene

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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.

MeasureMilfordDurhamWindhamKeene
People
Population
16,337
15,080Lowest
16,038
22,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.7%
NH: +4.6%
+5.8%
NH: +4.6%
+16.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-1.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
36.8±2.5
15% below NH
20.8±0.3Lowest
52% below NH
41.1±2.9Highest
5% below NH
37.6±2.3
13% below NH
Windham and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.7%±3.6
NH: 18.2%
10.3%±2.1Lowest
NH: 18.2%
27.4%±3.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
14.1%±1.6
NH: 18.2%
Windham 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%
15.5%±2.6
NH: 20.1%
19.5%±1.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
Keene and Windham 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%
62.7%
NH: 40.6%
44.1%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±1.3
NH: 6%
55.1%±3.2Highest
NH: 6%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
NH: 6%
13.8%±1.4
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,768±$14k
about the NH average
$124,056±$21k
25% above NH
$189,583±$19kHighest
91% above NH
$78,445±$8kLowest
21% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$398,800±$20k
about the NH average
$504,300±$41k
25% above NH
$723,300±$50kHighest
80% above NH
$252,500±$12kLowest
37% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,661±$126
11% above NH
$1,429±$143
4% below NH
$3,218±$350Highest
116% above NH
$1,342±$68Lowest
10% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,522
13% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$6,812Lowest
about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.6%±15.8
NH: 48.2%
66.4%±16Highest
NH: 48.2%
52.2%±50.9
NH: 48.2%
44.5%±6.1Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Durham and Windham 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%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
10.1%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.9%
NH: 72.8%
64.4%
NH: 72.8%
93.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
55.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
3 yrs newer than NH
1981
2 yrs newer than NH
1996Highest
17 yrs newer than NH
1961Lowest
18 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the NH average
19 min
27% below NH
31 minHighest
15% above NH
17 minLowest
36% below NH
Work from home
15.6%±3.3Lowest
NH: 16.8%
19.4%±3.5
NH: 16.8%
21.9%±4.4Highest
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±2.7Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Windham 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 #13 of 120 in NH #81 of 120 in NH
School district Milford School District Oyster River Coop School District Windham School District Keene School District
High school in town Milford High School Oyster River High School Windham High School Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Lowest
12.3
12.8Highest
12.3
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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.