Compare towns
Milford vs Keene vs Holderness vs Hooksett
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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Holderness has the most homeowners (83.7%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Holderness | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
22,939Highest |
1,917Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
| Hooksett and Holderness 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%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Hooksett 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% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
| Hooksett and Holderness 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 |
$363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
| Hooksett and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Holderness and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522Highest 13% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Milford and Keene 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% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #55 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | — | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Keene School District | Holderness School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Keene High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— | — |
| 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.