Compare towns

Milford 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

Milford has the most affordable homes ($358k median).
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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.

MeasureMilfordMilfordPortsmouth
People
Population
8,956Lowest
16,337
22,545Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.3%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+6.7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.7%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
36.7±3.7Lowest
15% below NH
36.8±2.5
15% below NH
42.9±2Highest
about the NH average
Kids under 18
23.2%±4
NH: 18.2%
23.7%±3.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
14%±1.9Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Milford and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.1%±2.5
NH: 20.1%
15.1%±1.9Lowest
NH: 20.1%
21.9%±2.4Highest
NH: 20.1%
Portsmouth and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
33.6%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
37.2%
NH: 40.6%
64%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±1.7Lowest
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
$78,684±$11kLowest
21% below NH
$97,768±$14k
about the NH average
$106,219±$7kHighest
7% above NH
Portsmouth and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$357,800±$16kLowest
11% below NH
$398,800±$20k
about the NH average
$688,500±$39kHighest
71% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,557±$120Lowest
4% above NH
$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
$6,978Lowest
5% above NH
$7,522
13% above NH
$8,018Highest
20% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.2%±10.7Lowest
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
5.9%
NH: 7.2%
3.9%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
6.8%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.4%
NH: 72.8%
64.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
51.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
3 yrs older than NH
1982Highest
3 yrs newer than NH
1959Lowest
20 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the NH average
27 minHighest
about the NH average
22 minLowest
17% below NH
Work from home
12.1%±3.9Lowest
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 #55 of 120 in NH #11 of 120 in NH
School district — Milford School District Portsmouth School District
High school 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.