Compare towns

Milford vs Hartford vs Keene

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 kids (23.7% under 18).
Hartford has the oldest population (median age 43.2).
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.

MeasureMilfordHartfordKeene
People
Population
16,337
10,736Lowest
22,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.8±2.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
43.2±3.9Highest
11% above U.S.
37.6±2.3
3% below U.S.
Hartford and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.7%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Milford and Hartford 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%
22.5%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Hartford and Keene 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%
47.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
13.8%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,768±$14kHighest
21% above U.S.
$78,125±$7kLowest
3% below U.S.
$78,445±$8k
about the U.S. average
Milford and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$398,800±$20kHighest
20% above U.S.
$304,500±$26k
8% below U.S.
$252,500±$12kLowest
24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,661±$126Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,218±$118Lowest
14% below U.S.
$1,342±$68
5% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,522Highest
141% above U.S.
$5,773Lowest
85% above U.S.
$6,812
118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.6%±15.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±12.7
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±6.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Milford and Hartford 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%
11.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
18 min
30% below U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
Work from home
15.6%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.9%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #55 of 120 in NH #34 of 70 in VT #81 of 120 in NH
School district Milford School District Hartford School District Keene School District
High school in town Milford High School Hartford High School Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7
9.6Lowest
12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.