Compare towns
Milford vs North Hampton vs Amherst vs Brookline
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 renters (35.1% rent).
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | North Hampton | Amherst | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
4,543Lowest |
11,861 |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
| North Hampton and Amherst 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% |
19.2%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton 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% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Brookline 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±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
| Brookline and North Hampton 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 |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Milford and Amherst 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% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | North Hampton School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.