Compare towns
Jaffrey vs Exeter vs Milton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jaffrey has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Milton has the most homeowners (86.3%).
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 | Jaffrey | Exeter | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,448 |
16,151Highest |
4,538Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±3.9Lowest about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
45.7±2.4 6% above NH |
| Exeter and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| Jaffrey and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.2% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.4 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,330±$18kLowest 7% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$94,493±$27k 5% 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 | $245,500±$27kLowest 39% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$318,400±$34k 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $962±$202Lowest 35% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,587±$318 6% above NH |
| Exeter and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,196 7% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,663Lowest 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±23Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
63.7%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Milton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.8% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±6.7 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 | #87 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #116 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Milton School District |
| High school in town | Conant Middle High School (H) | Exeter High School | Nute High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 21.3Highest |
12.1 |
10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.