Compare towns
Milford vs Portsmouth vs Norwich vs Somersworth
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).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k 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 | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
22,545Highest |
3,640Lowest |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%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. |
38.4±2.7 about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
19.9%±4 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%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
64% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest 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% |
4.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Somersworth 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±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$74,504±$13kLowest 8% below 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. |
$318,400±$23kLowest 4% below 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. |
$1,477±$134 5% 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 | $7,522 141% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,805Lowest 118% 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% |
56.3%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Somersworth 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%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% |
57.8% 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. |
1967 13 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. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest 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 | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Portsmouth School District | Norwich School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Portsmouth High School | None in town | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.4Highest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| 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.