Compare towns
Newington vs Keene vs Milford vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
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 | Newington | Keene | Milford | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 939Lowest |
22,939Highest |
16,337 |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| Newington and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Newington and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
| Newington and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$7,522 13% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Newington and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #81 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Newington School District | Keene School District | Milford School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | Milford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.