Compare towns
Jaffrey vs Jay vs Milton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jaffrey has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($318k 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 | Jaffrey | Jay | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,448Highest |
471Lowest |
4,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±3.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
45.7±2.4 17% above U.S. |
| Jay 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Jaffrey and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jaffrey and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Jaffrey and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,330±$18k 14% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$94,493±$27kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Milton and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,500±$27k 26% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $962±$202Lowest 32% below U.S. |
— | $1,587±$318Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,196Highest 99% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,663 82% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±23 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±24.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Milton and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay 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 | — | #116 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Milton School District |
| High school in town | Conant Middle High School (H) | None in town | Nute High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 21.3Highest |
— | 10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.