Compare towns
Milford vs Keene vs Durham
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 kids (23.7% under 18).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
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.
| Measure | Milford | Keene | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,337 |
22,939Highest |
15,080Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
37.6±2.3Highest 13% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Keene and Milford 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% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
| Durham and Milford 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 |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
| Milford and Durham 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 |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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 NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Milford 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Keene School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Keene High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.3Highest |
12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.