Compare towns
Milford vs Portsmouth vs Hanover vs Amherst
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 affordable homes ($399k median).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Amherst has the most homeowners (91.9%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
22,545Highest |
11,685Lowest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Amherst and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Amherst 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% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Amherst 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% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
65.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
| Hanover and Amherst 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±$39k 71% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest 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 |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
22 min 17% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Hanover 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 | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Portsmouth School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Portsmouth High School | Hanover High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
11.4Highest |
10.7 |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.