Compare towns
Milford vs Swanzey vs Amherst
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%).
Swanzey has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Swanzey | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
7,398Lowest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
| Swanzey and Amherst 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%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Amherst 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% |
24.2%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Swanzey and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2% NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Milford and Amherst 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 |
$81,595±$11kLowest 18% below NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,508±$303 about the NH average |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
| Milford and Swanzey 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 |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey 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% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
71.7% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #55 of 120 in NH | #102 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Monadnock Regional School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Monadnock Regional High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.