Compare towns
Milford vs Pembroke vs Hooksett 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 the youngest population (median age 36.8).
Pembroke has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Pembroke | Hooksett | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
7,438Lowest |
15,057 |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Amherst and Pembroke 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% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 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% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Amherst and Hooksett 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% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522 13% above NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Milford and Pembroke 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% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #55 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Pembroke School District | Hooksett School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Pembroke Academy | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
13.1Highest |
— | 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.