Compare towns
Milford vs Newmarket vs Swanzey vs Pembroke
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).
Swanzey has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
9,463 |
7,398Lowest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% 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 |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke 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% |
24.2%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2% NH: 40.6% |
49.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Newmarket and Milford 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 |
$100,845±$13kHighest about the NH average |
$81,595±$11kLowest 18% below NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% 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±$15kLowest 36% below NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
$1,508±$303 about the NH average |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% 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 |
$7,589 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 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% |
15%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% |
67.4% 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 |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
25 min 8% 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% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Newmarket and Pembroke 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 | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Newmarket School District | Monadnock Regional School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Monadnock Regional High School | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
9.9Lowest |
12.8 |
13.1Highest |
| 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.