Compare towns
Milford vs Portsmouth vs Roxbury
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).
Roxbury has the most homeowners (95.5%).
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 | Roxbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,337 |
22,545Highest |
299Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
43.2±17.7Highest about the NH average |
| Roxbury and Portsmouth 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% |
14.7%±11.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Roxbury 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% |
17.4%±10.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
13.4%±15.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Roxbury 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 about the NH average |
$106,219±$7kHighest 7% above NH |
$69,226±$14kLowest 30% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Milford 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 |
$323,100±$219kLowest 20% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% 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 |
$5,787Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
22 min 17% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
0.7%±1.4Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Milford School District | Portsmouth School District | — |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Portsmouth High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.4Highest |
— |
| 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.