Compare towns
Milford vs Lebanon vs Amherst vs Hollis
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 the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Hollis has the most expensive homes ($676k median).
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 | Lebanon | Amherst | Hollis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
14,999 |
11,861 |
8,603Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
49.4±5Highest 14% above NH |
| Hollis and Amherst 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% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
21%±4 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% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hollis and Lebanon 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% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest 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±$10k about the NH average |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
$168,883±$22kHighest 71% above NH |
| Hollis and Amherst 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 |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$675,900±$48kHighest 68% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$1,598±$302 7% 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 |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
31.3%±19.5Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
29%±6.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Hollis 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 | #20 of 120 in NH | #8 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Lebanon School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Lebanon High School | Souhegan Coop High School | Hollis-Brookline High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
11.7 |
10.4Lowest |
11.8Highest |
| 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.