Compare towns
Milford vs Newmarket vs Swanzey 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 most kids (23.7% under 18).
Newmarket has the most expensive homes ($455k median).
Swanzey has the oldest population (median age 50).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Swanzey | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
9,463 |
7,398Lowest |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% 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 |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Swanzey 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% |
24.2%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Swanzey 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% NH: 40.6% |
49.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$100,845±$13kHighest about the NH average |
$81,595±$11k 18% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Newmarket and Milford 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 |
$455,000±$22kHighest 13% above NH |
$259,200±$15k 36% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
$1,508±$303 about the NH average |
$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 |
$8,734Highest 31% above NH |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey 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% |
7.8% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
71.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older 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 |
24 min 9% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Newmarket and Milford 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 | #102 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Newmarket School District | Monadnock Regional School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Monadnock Regional 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.