Compare towns
Milford vs Rye 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 affordable homes ($399k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Rye | Amherst | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
5,611Lowest |
11,861 |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% 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% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$140,655±$39k 42% 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 |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
| Brookline and Rye 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 |
$7,519Lowest 13% 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% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Milford and Rye 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% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 8% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Rye 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.