Compare towns
Milford vs Lee vs Newfields vs Keene
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 people working from home (27.6%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | Lee | Newfields | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
4,576 |
2,023Lowest |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
44.1±1.8Highest about the NH average |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Newfields and Lee 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% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Keene 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% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Keene and Newfields 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 |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Newfields and Lee 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 |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
— | $1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Newfields 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 |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.3% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min 4% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Newfields 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Newfields School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | None in town | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | — | 12.3Highest |
| 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.