Compare towns
Milford vs Portsmouth vs Norwich vs Derry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Norwich has the highest household income ($140k).
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 | Norwich | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
22,545 |
3,640Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
42.9±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6 4% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry and Norwich 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 21% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7k 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17k 30% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 18% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522Lowest 141% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,103 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth and Norwich 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 70 in VT | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Portsmouth School District | Norwich 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 |
U.S. 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.