What stands out worked out from the figures below

Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).

Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Milford	Lebanon
People
Population	16,337Highest	14,999Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH	38.9±3.1Highest 10% below NH
	Lebanon and Milford 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%	14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1%	21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	57.5%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6%	6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6%
	Lebanon and Milford 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	$98,147±$10kHighest about the NH average
	Lebanon 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±$20kHighest about the NH average	$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH
	Milford and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,661±$126Lowest 11% above NH	$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH
	Lebanon and Milford 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	$8,149Highest 22% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2%	41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Milford and Lebanon 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%	7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.9%Highest NH: 72.8%	51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH	1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the NH average	14 minLowest 48% below NH
Work from home	15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8%
	Lebanon 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	#29 of 120 in NH
School district	Milford School District	Lebanon School District
High school in town	Milford High School	Lebanon High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	11.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.