Compare towns
Milford vs Portsmouth vs Norwich vs Pembroke
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).
Pembroke has the most affordable homes ($372k median).
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 | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
22,545Highest |
3,640Lowest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%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. |
41.9±3.3 8% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Pembroke 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% |
24%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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% |
16.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Portsmouth and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
64% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich 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±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$89,519±$22kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20k 20% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$371,500±$20kLowest 12% 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±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,218±$354Lowest 14% below 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. |
$7,589 143% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest 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% |
67.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below 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% |
17%±4.8 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 | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Portsmouth School District | Norwich School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Portsmouth High School | None in town | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.4 |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.