Compare towns
Milford vs Portsmouth vs Swanzey 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).
Swanzey has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Derry has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Swanzey | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
22,545 |
7,398Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%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±3.1Highest 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% |
18%±3.2 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% |
24.2%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Swanzey 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% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Lowest 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% |
3.4%±2Lowest 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±$14k about the NH average |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$81,595±$11kLowest 18% below NH |
$108,944±$7kHighest 10% above NH |
| Derry and Portsmouth 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 |
$259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,508±$303Lowest 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 |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
71.7%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 |
1978 1 yr older 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 |
24 min 9% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Derry 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 | #102 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Portsmouth School District | Monadnock Regional School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Portsmouth High School | Monadnock Regional High School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.4 |
12.8 |
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.