Compare towns
Milford vs Somersworth vs Portsmouth vs Lyndeborough
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).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Lyndeborough has the most homeowners (92.4%).
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 | Portsmouth | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
12,111 |
22,545Highest |
1,616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Somersworth 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% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyndeborough 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% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$116,964±$17kHighest 18% above NH |
| Lyndeborough 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 |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$390,900±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,482±$457 about the NH average |
| 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 |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
$8,018Highest 20% above NH |
$7,133 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Lyndeborough 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Milford School District | Somersworth School District | Portsmouth School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Somersworth High School | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| 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 |
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.