Compare towns

Newmarket vs Somersworth vs Milford vs Portsmouth

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Milford has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k 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.

MeasureNewmarketSomersworthMilfordPortsmouth
People
Population
9,463
12,111
8,956Lowest
22,545Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.5%
NH: +4.6%
+0.8%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+4.3%
NH: +4.6%
+5.7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.2±1.9
5% below NH
38.4±2.7
11% below NH
36.7±3.7Lowest
15% below NH
42.9±2Highest
about the NH average
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%
19.9%±4
NH: 18.2%
23.2%±4Highest
NH: 18.2%
14%±1.9Lowest
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+
16.1%±2.8
NH: 20.1%
14%±3Lowest
NH: 20.1%
18.1%±2.5
NH: 20.1%
21.9%±2.4Highest
NH: 20.1%
Portsmouth and Milford 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%
31.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
33.6%
NH: 40.6%
64%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9Highest
NH: 6%
4.9%±2
NH: 6%
3.3%±1.7Lowest
NH: 6%
3.8%±1.2
NH: 6%
Newmarket and Somersworth 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
$74,504±$13kLowest
25% below NH
$78,684±$11k
21% below NH
$106,219±$7kHighest
7% above NH
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
$318,400±$23kLowest
21% below NH
$357,800±$16k
11% below NH
$688,500±$39kHighest
71% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,671±$69
12% above NH
$1,477±$134Lowest
about the NH average
$1,557±$120
4% above NH
$1,869±$111Highest
25% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,734Highest
31% above NH
$6,805Lowest
about the NH average
$6,978
5% above NH
$8,018
20% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.3%±8.3Lowest
NH: 48.2%
56.3%±14.7Highest
NH: 48.2%
48.2%±10.7
NH: 48.2%
50.4%±7.2
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
4.6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
11.2%Highest
NH: 7.2%
5.9%
NH: 7.2%
6.8%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.9%
NH: 72.8%
57.8%
NH: 72.8%
59.4%Highest
NH: 72.8%
51.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
4 yrs newer than NH
1967
12 yrs older than NH
1976
3 yrs older than NH
1959Lowest
20 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above NH
26 min
3% below NH
26 min
about the NH average
22 minLowest
17% below NH
Work from home
17.3%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
11.7%±3.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
12.1%±3.9
NH: 16.8%
21.9%±4Highest
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 #117 of 120 in NH #55 of 120 in NH #11 of 120 in NH
School district Newmarket School District Somersworth School District — Portsmouth School District
High school in town Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School Somersworth High School — Portsmouth High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.9Lowest
11.4Highest
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11.4Highest
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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.