Compare towns
Carmel vs Exeter vs Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carmel has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Milford has the most affordable homes ($176k 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.
| Measure | Carmel | Exeter | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,941Lowest |
16,151Highest |
3,095 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.5Highest 19% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
43.3±6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Carmel and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Carmel and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,188±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$85,111±$26k 5% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,800±$37k 23% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$176,400±$48kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,276±$187 10% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$943±$57Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,662 15% below U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$1,962Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.6%±48.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.5%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Milford 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 | #77 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | #75 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Milford Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.