Compare towns
Milford vs Hollis vs Lyndeborough vs Amherst
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 most renters (35.1% rent).
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Lyndeborough has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
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 | Hollis | Lyndeborough | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
8,603 |
1,616Lowest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
49.4±5 14% above NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
| Lyndeborough and Hollis 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% |
21%±4 NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Hollis and Lyndeborough 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% |
57.3% NH: 40.6% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Milford and Lyndeborough 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 about the NH average |
$168,883±$22kHighest 71% above NH |
$116,964±$17k 18% above NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
| Hollis and Amherst 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 |
$675,900±$48kHighest 68% above NH |
$390,900±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,598±$302 7% above NH |
$1,482±$457 about the NH average |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
| Milford and Hollis 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 |
$7,133Lowest 7% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.3%±19.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
| Milford and Lyndeborough 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% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29%±6.4 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Hollis 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 | #8 of 120 in NH | — | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Hollis-Brookline High School | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
11.8Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.