Compare towns
Milford vs Rye vs Keene vs Derry
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).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
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 | Keene | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
5,611Lowest |
22,939 |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 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% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
| Rye and Derry 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 |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
| 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 |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
29 min 8% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #55 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Rye School District | Keene School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | None in town | Keene High School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 12.3 |
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.