Compare towns
Milford vs Portsmouth vs Hanover vs Keene
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 oldest population (median age 42.9).
Hanover has the highest household income ($153k).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
22,545 |
8,479Lowest |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Keene 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% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522 13% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Portsmouth 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% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
62.4% NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1961 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
22 min 17% below NH |
19 min 29% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Portsmouth School District | — | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Portsmouth High School | — | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.4 |
— | 12.3Highest |
| 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.