Compare towns
Holderness 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
Holderness has the most homeowners (83.7%).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Holderness | Milford | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
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 | 39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
| Portsmouth and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7% NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest 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 | $107,863±$45kHighest 9% above NH |
$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Holderness and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,661±$126Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Holderness and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$7,522 13% above NH |
$8,018Highest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2Lowest 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 | 12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Milford 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 | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Holderness School District | Milford School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Milford High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
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.