Compare towns
Milford vs Portsmouth vs Windham vs Somersworth
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 youngest population (median age 36.8).
Portsmouth has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
22,545Highest |
16,038 |
12,111Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham 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 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Highest NH: 6% |
| Somersworth 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 |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
| Windham and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522 13% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Windham 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% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #55 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Portsmouth School District | Windham School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Portsmouth High School | Windham High School | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.4 |
12.8Highest |
11.4 |
| 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.