Compare towns
Exeter vs Milford vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Milford has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Exeter | Milford | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
30,431Highest |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
38.9±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Upton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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 | $110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$96,365±$4kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$476,700±$12k 43% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,909±$137Highest 35% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Milford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,869Lowest 88% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #213 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Milford | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Milford High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.9 |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.