Compare towns
Milford vs Kingston vs Amherst
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%).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Kingston | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
6,275Lowest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Amherst 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% |
24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston and Amherst 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% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Milford and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
| Amherst and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
| Milford and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
$7,906 19% above NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Milford and Kingston 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% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #55 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Sanborn Regional High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
12.9Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.