Compare towns
Milford vs Lebanon vs Lyndeborough 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 the shortest commute (14 min average).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Lebanon | Lyndeborough | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
14,999 |
1,616Lowest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%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 |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
| Lyndeborough 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% |
14.9%±5.3 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%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyndeborough 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% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$116,964±$17k 18% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$390,900±$26k about the NH average |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,482±$457 about the NH average |
$1,462±$256Lowest 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 |
$7,133Lowest 7% above NH |
$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% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Milford and Lyndeborough 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% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 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 | — | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Lebanon School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Lebanon High School | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
11.7Highest |
— | 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.