Compare towns
Amherst vs Milford vs Portsmouth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Milford has the most affordable homes ($399k median).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k 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 | Amherst | Milford | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Lowest |
16,337 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Amherst and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest 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+ | 20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Milford and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Milford School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Milford High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
10.7 |
11.4Highest |
| 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.