Compare towns

Milford vs Stratham vs Somersworth vs Hooksett

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).
Stratham has the most people working from home (25.3%).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).

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.

MeasureMilfordStrathamSomersworthHooksett
People
Population
16,337Highest
7,754Lowest
12,111
15,057
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.7%
NH: +4.6%
+5.7%
NH: +4.6%
+0.8%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+10.6%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
36.8±2.5Lowest
15% below NH
41.6±4.9Highest
4% below NH
38.4±2.7
11% below NH
41.3±1.5
5% below NH
Stratham and Hooksett 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%
23.5%±5.3
NH: 18.2%
19.9%±4
NH: 18.2%
17.4%±2.9Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Milford and Stratham 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%
20.6%±3.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
14%±3Lowest
NH: 20.1%
17.3%±2.4
NH: 20.1%
Stratham and Hooksett 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%
69.9%Highest
NH: 40.6%
31.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
39.6%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±1.3
NH: 6%
3.9%±1.7Lowest
NH: 6%
4.9%±2
NH: 6%
8.9%±1.6Highest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,768±$14k
about the NH average
$151,998±$20kHighest
53% above NH
$74,504±$13kLowest
25% below NH
$117,962±$11k
19% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$398,800±$20k
about the NH average
$655,400±$36kHighest
63% above NH
$318,400±$23kLowest
21% below NH
$407,000±$26k
about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,661±$126
11% above NH
$2,511±$377Highest
68% above NH
$1,477±$134Lowest
about the NH average
$1,661±$206
11% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,522
13% above NH
$9,781Highest
47% above NH
$6,805
about the NH average
$6,554Lowest
about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.6%±15.8
NH: 48.2%
64%±38.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
56.3%±14.7
NH: 48.2%
41.7%±16.4Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Stratham and Somersworth 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%
2.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
11.2%Highest
NH: 7.2%
3.3%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.9%
NH: 72.8%
92.6%Highest
NH: 72.8%
57.8%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
80.6%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
3 yrs newer than NH
1986
7 yrs newer than NH
1967Lowest
12 yrs older than NH
1988Highest
9 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the NH average
27 min
about the NH average
26 minLowest
3% below NH
27 min
about the NH average
Work from home
15.6%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
25.3%±6.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
11.7%±3.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
13.4%±3.1
NH: 16.8%
Stratham 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 #43 of 120 in NH #117 of 120 in NH #30 of 120 in NH
School district Milford School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Somersworth School District Hooksett School District
High school in town Milford High School None in town 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 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.