Compare towns
Milford vs Lebanon vs Amherst 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 the youngest population (median age 36.8).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Amherst has the highest household income ($153k).
Pembroke has the most affordable homes ($372k 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 | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
14,999 |
11,861 |
7,438Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
| Amherst and Pembroke 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% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 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% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon 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% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest 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% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest 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±$14k about the NH average |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below 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 |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$7,589 14% 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%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Milford and Pembroke 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% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Lebanon 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 | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Lebanon School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Lebanon High School | Souhegan Coop High School | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
11.7 |
10.4Lowest |
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.