Compare towns
Milford vs Lee vs Portsmouth vs Pembroke
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).
Pembroke has the most affordable homes ($372k 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 | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
4,576Lowest |
22,545Highest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke 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% |
16.4%±3.2 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% |
32.2%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% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% 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 |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
— | $1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$7,589 14% 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% |
48.4%±21.8 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% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% 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 |
1969 10 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 |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 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 | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Portsmouth School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | None in town | Portsmouth High School | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 11.4 |
13.1Highest |
| 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.