Compare towns
Milford vs Keene vs Stratham vs Pembroke
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).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Stratham | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
22,939Highest |
7,754 |
7,438Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH |
| Pembroke and Stratham 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% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest 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%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham 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% NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522 13% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Milford 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1969 10 yrs older 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 |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Pembroke 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Keene School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Keene High School | None in town | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.3 |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.