Compare towns
Milford vs Keene vs Pembroke vs Plaistow
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).
Pembroke has the most people working from home (17%).
Plaistow has the most homeowners (78.1%).
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 | Pembroke | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
22,939Highest |
7,438Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
| Pembroke and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Milford 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%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH |
| Plaistow 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 |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average |
| Plaistow 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±$68 10% below NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
| Plaistow and Milford 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 |
$7,589Highest 14% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Pembroke 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 | #85 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Keene School District | Pembroke School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Keene High School | Pembroke Academy | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.3 |
13.1Highest |
11.4 |
| 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.