Compare towns

Plymouth vs Portsmouth vs Milford vs Campton

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Campton has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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.

MeasurePlymouthPortsmouthMilfordCampton
People
Population
6,601
22,545Highest
16,337
3,407Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.4%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.7%
NH: +4.6%
+6.7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+0.3%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
24.6±3.4Lowest
43% below NH
42.9±2
about the NH average
36.8±2.5
15% below NH
49.2±3.7Highest
14% above NH
Kids under 18
13.6%±3.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
14%±1.9
NH: 18.2%
23.7%±3.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
19.5%±6.8
NH: 18.2%
Milford and Campton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
12%±2.7Lowest
NH: 20.1%
21.9%±2.4
NH: 20.1%
15.1%±1.9
NH: 20.1%
23.2%±10.9Highest
NH: 20.1%
Campton and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54%
NH: 40.6%
64%Highest
NH: 40.6%
37.2%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
51.2%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
33.7%±3.5Highest
NH: 6%
3.8%±1.2Lowest
NH: 6%
4.2%±1.3
NH: 6%
7.2%±4.2
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,027±$26kLowest
22% below NH
$106,219±$7k
7% above NH
$97,768±$14k
about the NH average
$118,870±$21kHighest
20% above NH
Campton and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$292,400±$22kLowest
27% below NH
$688,500±$39kHighest
71% above NH
$398,800±$20k
about the NH average
$356,300±$38k
11% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,108±$255Lowest
26% below NH
$1,869±$111Highest
25% above NH
$1,661±$126
11% above NH
—
Portsmouth and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,288
6% below NH
$8,018Highest
20% above NH
$7,522
13% above NH
$6,028Lowest
10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.8%±11.6Lowest
NH: 48.2%
50.4%±7.2
NH: 48.2%
49.6%±15.8
NH: 48.2%
72.6%±44.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
Campton and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
18.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
6.8%
NH: 7.2%
3.9%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
8.3%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
56.3%
NH: 72.8%
51.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
64.9%
NH: 72.8%
94.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
2 yrs newer than NH
1959Lowest
20 yrs older than NH
1982
3 yrs newer than NH
1985Highest
6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
31% below NH
22 min
17% below NH
27 minHighest
about the NH average
23 min
13% below NH
Work from home
11.7%±3.6Lowest
NH: 16.8%
21.9%±4
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
28.3%±10.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
Campton and Portsmouth 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 #47 of 120 in NH #11 of 120 in NH #55 of 120 in NH #68 of 120 in NH
School district Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District Portsmouth School District Milford School District Campton School District
High school in town Plymouth Regional High School Portsmouth High School Milford High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
11.4
10.7Lowest
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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.