Compare towns
Milford vs Derry vs Somersworth
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Derry has the highest household income ($109k).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k 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 | Milford | Derry | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,337 |
34,116Highest |
12,111Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
40.3±1.6Highest 7% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
| Derry and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Derry and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$108,944±$7kHighest 10% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Derry and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$432,000±$17kHighest 7% above NH |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
| Derry and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
| Milford and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522 13% above NH |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Derry 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Pinkerton Academy | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
13.9Highest |
11.4 |
| 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.