Compare towns

Milford vs Rye vs Milford 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

Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Milford has the most affordable homes ($358k median).
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.

MeasureMilfordRyeMilfordBrookline
People
Population
16,337Highest
5,611Lowest
8,956
5,736
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.7%
NH: +4.6%
+4.6%
NH: +4.6%
+4.3%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+13%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
36.8±2.5
15% below NH
55.1±3Highest
27% above NH
36.7±3.7Lowest
15% below NH
41.2±1.5
5% below NH
Kids under 18
23.7%±3.6
NH: 18.2%
18.2%±4Lowest
NH: 18.2%
23.2%±4
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%
18.1%±2.5
NH: 20.1%
11.4%±2.1Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.2%
NH: 40.6%
61.5%Highest
NH: 40.6%
33.6%Lowest
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%
3.3%±1.7
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±$14k
about the NH average
$140,655±$39k
42% above NH
$78,684±$11kLowest
21% below NH
$171,046±$4kHighest
73% above NH
Brookline and Rye 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
$357,800±$16kLowest
11% below NH
$544,400±$38k
35% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,661±$126
11% above NH
$1,781±$156
19% above NH
$1,557±$120Lowest
4% above NH
$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
$7,519
13% above NH
$6,978Lowest
5% 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%
48.2%±10.7
NH: 48.2%
23.8%±43.5Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Milford 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%
5.9%
NH: 7.2%
0.6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.9%
NH: 72.8%
85.5%
NH: 72.8%
59.4%Lowest
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
1976
3 yrs older than NH
1993Highest
14 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the NH average
29 min
8% above NH
26 minLowest
about the NH average
33 minHighest
25% above NH
Work from home
15.6%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
30.9%±7.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
12.1%±3.9Lowest
NH: 16.8%
24.7%±5.8
NH: 16.8%
Rye and Brookline 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 #55 of 120 in NH #23 of 120 in NH
School district Milford School District Rye School District — Brookline School District
High school in town Milford High School None in town — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7
— — —
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.