Compare towns
Milford vs Stoddard vs Keene
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 kids (23.7% under 18).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Stoddard | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,337 |
1,072Lowest |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
53±4Highest 22% above NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Stoddard 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% |
24.4%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2% NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14kHighest about the NH average |
$94,904±$11k 4% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Milford and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20kHighest about the NH average |
$330,300±$20k 18% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522Highest 13% above NH |
$4,316Lowest 35% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stoddard 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% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #55 of 120 in NH | — | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Stoddard School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.