Compare towns
Milford vs Eliot vs Amherst
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milford has the most affordable homes ($399k median).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Eliot | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
7,146Lowest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5 18% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Milford and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Amherst 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Milford and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 18% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,462±$256Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522 141% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$9,773Highest 213% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #55 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.