Compare towns
Milford vs Keene vs Lee
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,337 |
22,939Highest |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee 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 NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
| Lee 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 |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522 13% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #3 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 | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 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.