Compare towns
Milford vs Portsmouth vs Lyndeborough vs Derry
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 most expensive homes ($689k median).
Lyndeborough has the most homeowners (92.4%).
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 | Lyndeborough | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
22,545 |
1,616Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Derry 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%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyndeborough and Portsmouth 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% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Derry 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±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$116,964±$17kHighest 18% above NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
| Lyndeborough and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$390,900±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,482±$457Lowest about the NH average |
$1,547±$138 4% 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 |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$7,133Lowest 7% above NH |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Portsmouth 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% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Lyndeborough 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 | — | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Portsmouth School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Portsmouth High School | None in town | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.4 |
— | 13.9Highest |
| 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.