Compare towns
Milford vs Lee vs Newmarket 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%).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
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 | Newmarket | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
4,576Lowest |
9,463 |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% 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 |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Amherst 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% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest 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%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee 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% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newmarket and Lee 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 |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
| Amherst 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±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
| Amherst and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
— | $1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
| Newmarket 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 |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$8,734 31% above NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Milford and Newmarket 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% |
4.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min about the NH average |
28 min 6% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Newmarket School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
10.4 |
| 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.