Compare towns
Madbury 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
Madbury has the highest household income ($148k).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Milford has the most affordable homes ($399k 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 | Madbury | Portsmouth | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
22,545Highest |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3Highest 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 | $148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest 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 | 4.9% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 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 | — | #11 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Portsmouth School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
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.