Compare towns
Exeter vs Milton vs Ossipee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Milton has the most homeowners (86.3%).
Ossipee has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Milton | Ossipee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
4,538 |
4,521Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
45.7±2.4Lowest 6% above NH |
50±4.6Highest 15% above NH |
| Ossipee 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 NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±5 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Ossipee and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Ossipee and Exeter 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 NH: 40.6% |
21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
24.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$94,493±$27k 5% below NH |
$90,521±$22kLowest 9% below NH |
| Exeter and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$318,400±$34kLowest 21% below NH |
$325,500±$23k 19% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,587±$318Lowest 6% above NH |
$1,601±$245 7% above NH |
| Exeter and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,663 15% below NH |
$4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.7%±24.9 NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #116 of 120 in NH | #100 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Milton School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Nute High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
10.6Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | 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.