Compare towns
Milford vs Keene vs Eliot vs Derry
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).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Derry has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Eliot | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
22,939 |
7,146Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Milford and Derry 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% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Derry and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20k 20% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17k 30% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Derry 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. |
$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,547±$138 9% 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. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Derry 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% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot and Derry 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Keene School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Keene High School | None in town | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.3 |
— | 13.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.