Compare towns
Milford vs Lee vs Lyme 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Lee | Lyme | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
4,576 |
1,710Lowest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
| Lyme 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% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest 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% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Lee 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% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
65.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Lee 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 |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
| Amherst and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
— | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
| Milford and Amherst 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 |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Milford 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% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
28 min about the NH average |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | — | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Lyme School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | None in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
— | — | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.