Compare towns
Milford vs Dover vs Hampton
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 kids (23.7% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | Dover | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,337Lowest |
33,364Highest |
16,426 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14kHighest about the NH average |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
| Milford and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
| Milford and Hampton 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 |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Milford 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% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton and Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Dover School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Dover Senior High School | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
12.7Highest |
10.1Lowest |
| 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.