Compare towns

Newmarket vs Henniker vs Portsmouth vs Milford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Henniker is a college town. 27% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureNewmarketHennikerPortsmouthMilford
People
Population
9,463
6,197Lowest
22,545Highest
16,337
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+27.9%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.7%
NH: +4.6%
+6.7%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.2±1.9
5% below NH
31.1±6.1Lowest
28% below NH
42.9±2Highest
about the NH average
36.8±2.5
15% below NH
Portsmouth and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.6%±2.7
NH: 18.2%
15.3%±3.7
NH: 18.2%
14%±1.9Lowest
NH: 18.2%
23.7%±3.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
16.1%±2.8
NH: 20.1%
16.5%±6
NH: 20.1%
21.9%±2.4Highest
NH: 20.1%
15.1%±1.9Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Portsmouth and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
49.7%
NH: 40.6%
41.4%
NH: 40.6%
64%Highest
NH: 40.6%
37.2%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9
NH: 6%
27%±6.5Highest
NH: 6%
3.8%±1.2Lowest
NH: 6%
4.2%±1.3
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$100,845±$13k
about the NH average
$95,206±$21kLowest
4% below NH
$106,219±$7kHighest
7% above NH
$97,768±$14k
about the NH average
Portsmouth and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$455,000±$22k
13% above NH
$356,700±$49kLowest
11% below NH
$688,500±$39kHighest
71% above NH
$398,800±$20k
about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,671±$69
12% above NH
$1,081±$164Lowest
27% below NH
$1,869±$111Highest
25% above NH
$1,661±$126
11% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,734
31% above NH
$8,877Highest
33% above NH
$8,018
20% above NH
$7,522Lowest
13% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.3%±8.3
NH: 48.2%
43.5%±22.6Lowest
NH: 48.2%
50.4%±7.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
49.6%±15.8
NH: 48.2%
Portsmouth and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.6%
NH: 7.2%
11.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
6.8%
NH: 7.2%
3.9%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.9%
NH: 72.8%
64.5%
NH: 72.8%
51.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
64.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
4 yrs newer than NH
1974
5 yrs older than NH
1959Lowest
20 yrs older than NH
1982
3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above NH
20 minLowest
24% below NH
22 min
17% below NH
27 min
about the NH average
Work from home
17.3%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
15.5%±5.6Lowest
NH: 16.8%
21.9%±4Highest
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
Portsmouth and Newmarket 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 #39 of 120 in NH #56 of 120 in NH #11 of 120 in NH #55 of 120 in NH
School district Newmarket School District Henniker School District Portsmouth School District Milford School District
High school in town Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School None in town Portsmouth High School Milford High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.9Lowest
—
11.4Highest
10.7
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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.