Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Lyndeborough 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
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Lyndeborough has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Milford has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Portsmouth | Lyndeborough | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
1,616Lowest |
8,956 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2 about the NH average |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
36.7±3.7Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.1%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyndeborough and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Portsmouth and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$116,964±$17kHighest 18% above NH |
$78,684±$11kLowest 21% below NH |
| Lyndeborough and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$390,900±$26k about the NH average |
$357,800±$16kLowest 11% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,482±$457Lowest about the NH average |
$1,557±$120 4% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018Highest 20% above NH |
$7,133 7% above NH |
$6,978Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
48.2%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
59.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Lyndeborough 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | — | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | — |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.