Compare towns
Milford vs Lebanon vs Keene 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 the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Amherst has the highest household income ($153k).
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 | Keene | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
14,999 |
22,939Highest |
11,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest 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% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
| Lebanon and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522 13% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Milford and Keene 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% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
17 min 36% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Lebanon School District | Keene School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Lebanon High School | Keene High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
11.7 |
12.3Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.