Compare towns
Milford vs Portsmouth vs Hooksett
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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,337 |
22,545Highest |
15,057Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Hooksett 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% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Hooksett 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% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Hooksett 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
| Hooksett and Portsmouth 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 |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,661±$206Lowest 11% 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 |
$8,018Highest 20% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Milford 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 | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Portsmouth School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.4Highest |
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| 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.