Compare towns
Milford vs Hampton Falls 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 ($399k median).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
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 | Hampton Falls | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,337 |
2,328Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Hampton Falls and Portsmouth 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% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Milford and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest 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 | 3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Hampton Falls 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 | — | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Hampton Falls School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | None in town | 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.