Compare towns
Exeter vs Milford vs Norwich
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 most affordable homes ($399k median).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k 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 | Exeter | Milford | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
16,337Highest |
3,640Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
36.8±2.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Norwich 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% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich 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% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Norwich 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. |
$97,768±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$398,800±$20kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,661±$126 18% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$7,522Lowest 141% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Milford School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Milford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.