Compare towns
Andover vs Exeter vs Milton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most people working from home (30.4%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Milton has the highest household income ($189k).
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 | Andover | Exeter | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
16,151Lowest |
28,587 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.1±1.8Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Milton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Milton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$188,529±$15kHighest 134% above U.S. |
| Milton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$933,200±$31kHighest 180% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,474±$281Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Andover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814Lowest 183% above U.S. |
$9,677 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.7%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Milton 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 | #68 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Milton |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Exeter High School | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
12.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.