Compare towns
Milford vs Exeter 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
Milford has the youngest population (median age 36.8).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
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 | Exeter | Windham | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
16,151 |
16,038Lowest |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Exeter and Windham 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% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest 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%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$110,346±$13k 11% 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 |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522 13% above NH |
$8,814 32% 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% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
69.1% 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 |
1979 same as 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 |
25 min 7% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Windham and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Windham School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Exeter High School | Windham High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.1 |
12.8Highest |
12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.