Compare towns
Milford vs Portsmouth vs Hanover 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
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Portsmouth has the oldest population (median age 42.9).
Hanover has the highest household income ($170k).
Milford has the most affordable homes ($358k median).
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 | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
22,545Highest |
11,685 |
8,956Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% 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 |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
36.7±3.7 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford 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% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
18.1%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Hanover 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% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest 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% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$78,684±$11kLowest 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$357,800±$16kLowest 11% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,557±$120Lowest 4% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522 13% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,978Lowest 5% 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% |
48.2%±10.7Lowest 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% |
5.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
59.4% 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 |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
22 min 17% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±3.9Lowest 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 | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Portsmouth School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Portsmouth High School | Hanover High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.4Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.