Compare towns
Somersworth vs Plaistow vs New Ipswich 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
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Plaistow has the oldest population (median age 40.1).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
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 | Somersworth | Plaistow | New Ipswich | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,111 |
7,861 |
5,310Lowest |
16,337Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
40.1±3.7Highest 7% below NH |
36.9±2.4 15% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
| Plaistow and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| New Ipswich and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±3 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Plaistow and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
32.1% NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Somersworth and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$110,507±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
| New Ipswich and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average |
$392,400±$31k about the NH average |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
| Plaistow and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
| Plaistow and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,805 about the NH average |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
$7,522Highest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| New Ipswich and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Milford and Plaistow 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 | #117 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #82 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Somersworth School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Mascenic Regional School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Somersworth High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Mascenic Regional High School | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
11.4 |
11.7Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.