What stands out worked out from the figures below

Manchester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Manchester	Milton
People
Population	115,643Highest	4,538Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.5%Highest NH: +4.6%	-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	38±1Lowest 12% below NH	45.7±2.4Highest 6% above NH
Kids under 18	18%±1Lowest NH: 18.2%	18.4%±5Highest NH: 18.2%
	Milton and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	16.1%±3.4Highest NH: 20.1%
	Milton and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34%Highest NH: 40.6%	21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.4%±0.7Highest NH: 6%	2.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH	$94,493±$27kHighest 5% below NH
	Milton and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$365,600±$7kHighest 9% below NH	$318,400±$34kLowest 21% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,564±$37Lowest 5% above NH	$1,587±$318Highest 6% above NH
	Milton and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,922Highest 11% below NH	$5,663Lowest 15% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50%±3.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	63.7%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2%
	Milton and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.2%Highest NH: 7.2%	8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	86.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 10% below NH	33 minHighest 25% above NH
Work from home	14.1%±1.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	18.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8%
	Milton and Manchester 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	#115 of 120 in NH	#116 of 120 in NH
School district	Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District	Milton School District
High school in town	Manchester Memorial High School	Nute High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	10.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	6 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.