Compare towns
Milford vs Stratham vs Derry 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Stratham has the most people working from home (25.3%).
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 | Stratham | Derry | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
7,754Lowest |
34,116Highest |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
41.6±4.9Highest 4% below NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Stratham and Derry 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% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Stratham 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% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522 13% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Derry 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Derry 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 13.9Highest |
12.3 |
| 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.