Compare towns
Milford vs Rye vs Derry vs Lyndeborough
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%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Lyndeborough has the most homeowners (92.4%).
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 | Rye | Derry | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
5,611 |
34,116Highest |
1,616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
50±3.2 15% above NH |
| Rye and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Derry 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Derry 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±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$116,964±$17k 18% above NH |
| Rye and Lyndeborough 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 |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$390,900±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,482±$457Lowest about the NH average |
| Rye 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 |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$7,133Lowest 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Milford 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% NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 8% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #55 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Milford School District | Rye School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 13.9Highest |
— |
| 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.