Compare towns
Nashua vs Brookline vs Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nashua has the most renters (44.2% rent).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Milford has the youngest population (median age 36.8).
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 | Nashua | Brookline | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 91,294Highest |
5,736Lowest |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40±1.3 8% below NH |
41.2±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
| Brookline and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6 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+ | 16.9%±1Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Nashua and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±0.6 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,326±$5kLowest about the NH average |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,900±$11k about the NH average |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,737±$41 16% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,661±$126Lowest 11% above NH |
| Brookline and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,799Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,522 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±4.2 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Milford and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±1.6 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Nashua 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 | #67 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Nashua School District | Brookline School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Nashua High School South | None in town | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.