Compare towns
Milford vs Newmarket vs Hanover 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%).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Amherst has the most homeowners (91.9%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
9,463 |
8,479Lowest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Amherst and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest 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% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Amherst and Hanover 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% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
65.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
| Hanover and Amherst 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 |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,734 31% 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% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
62.4% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
28 min 6% above NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Newmarket School District | — | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | 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 | 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.