Compare towns
Milford vs Somersworth vs Ashland
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%).
Somersworth has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k 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 | Somersworth | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
12,111 |
2,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
| Ashland and Somersworth 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% |
19.9%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Ashland 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% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest 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±$14kHighest about the NH average |
$74,504±$13k 25% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Milford and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20kHighest about the NH average |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
| Milford and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522Highest 13% above NH |
$6,805 about the NH average |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Milford 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% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Milford and Somersworth 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 | #117 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Milford School District | Somersworth School District | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Somersworth High School | None in town |
| 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.