Compare towns
Milford vs Portsmouth vs Dover
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).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,337Lowest |
22,545 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest 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±$14k about the NH average |
$106,219±$7kHighest 7% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Milford 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 |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% 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 | $7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest 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% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older 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 |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Portsmouth School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Portsmouth High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.4 |
12.7Highest |
| 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.