Compare towns
Milford vs Newmarket vs Bow 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 the youngest population (median age 36.8).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Newmarket | Bow | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
9,463 |
8,335Lowest |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Bow and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Milford 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% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Bow 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% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Bow and Newmarket 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 |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Newmarket 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 |
$8,734 31% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 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% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Newmarket 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Newmarket School District | Bow School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Bow High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
9.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.3 |
| 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.