Compare towns
Middleton vs Bow 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
Middleton has the most homeowners (96.5%).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Middleton | Bow | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,595Lowest |
8,335Highest |
4,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.5±5.7 about the NH average |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
45.7±2.4Highest 6% above NH |
| Milton and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.2 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Middleton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$8k about the NH average |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$94,493±$27kLowest 5% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,300±$27kLowest 22% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$318,400±$34k 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$293Lowest about the NH average |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,587±$318Highest 6% above NH |
| Milton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,504Lowest 17% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$5,663 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.7%±24.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Middleton and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 45% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.1%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #116 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Middleton School District | Bow School District | Milton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Nute High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
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.