Compare towns
Milford vs Portsmouth vs Bow 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
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Portsmouth | Bow | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
22,545Highest |
8,335Lowest |
8,956 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
36.7±3.7Lowest 15% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow 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% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
18.1%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth 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% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow 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 |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$78,684±$11kLowest 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$357,800±$16kLowest 11% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,557±$120 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 |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,978Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest 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% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
59.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Portsmouth School District | Bow School District | — |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Portsmouth High School | Bow High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.4 |
12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.