Compare towns
Milford vs Lee 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
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Milford has the most affordable homes ($358k 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 | Lee | Portsmouth | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
4,576Lowest |
22,545Highest |
8,956 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
36.7±3.7Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.2%±4 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+ | 15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
18.1%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee 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% NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lee 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±$14k about the NH average |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$78,684±$11kLowest 21% below NH |
| Lee and Portsmouth 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 |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$357,800±$16kLowest 11% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
— | $1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,557±$120Lowest 4% 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 | $7,522 13% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$6,978Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.2%±10.7 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
59.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Portsmouth 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Oyster River Coop 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 | 10 photos → | 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.