Compare towns
Jaffrey vs Nelson 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 affordable homes ($246k median).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Milton has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Nelson | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,448Highest |
648Lowest |
4,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±3.9 about the NH average |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
45.7±2.4Highest 6% above NH |
| Milton and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Jaffrey 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% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.2% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| 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±$18kLowest 7% below NH |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$94,493±$27k 5% below NH |
| Nelson 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 |
$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH |
$318,400±$34k 21% below NH |
| Nelson and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $962±$202Lowest 35% below NH |
$1,203±$243 19% below NH |
$1,587±$318Highest 6% above NH |
| Milton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,196Highest 7% below NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$5,663 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±23 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.7%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 | Nelson 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 |
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.