Compare towns
Newmarket vs Pembroke 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
Pembroke has the most affordable homes ($372k median).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Newmarket | Pembroke | Portsmouth | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463 |
7,438Lowest |
22,545Highest |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Pembroke 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% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Pembroke 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% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Newmarket and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% 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 |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,734Highest 31% above NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 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% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1969 10 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 |
25 min 8% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest 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 | #85 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Pembroke School District | Portsmouth School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Pembroke Academy | Portsmouth High School | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
13.1Highest |
11.4 |
10.7 |
| 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.