Compare towns
Keene vs Enfield vs Portsmouth 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
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Enfield has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Keene | Enfield | Portsmouth | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
4,475Lowest |
22,545 |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
-2.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
58.3±5.4Highest 35% above NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
7.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
30.7%±7.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Enfield and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% NH: 40.6% |
43% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$95,474±$19k 4% below NH |
$106,219±$7kHighest 7% above NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
| Portsmouth and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$390,800±$71k about the NH average |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,181±$563Lowest 21% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,661±$126 11% 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 | $6,812 about the NH average |
$6,203Lowest 7% below NH |
$8,018Highest 20% above NH |
$7,522 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
17.8%±16.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 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 | 10.1% NH: 7.2% |
16.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 18 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
11%±5.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Keene 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #5 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Portsmouth School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | Portsmouth High School | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 11.4 |
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.