What stands out worked out from the figures below

Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).

Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).

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	Milford	Alton
People
Population	16,337Highest	5,994Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH	53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH
Kids under 18	23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2%	13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1%	25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.3Highest NH: 6%	0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average	$113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH
	Alton and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average	$430,400±$37kHighest 7% above NH
	Alton and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,661±$126 11% above NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,522Highest 13% above NH	$4,183Lowest 37% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2%	31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Milford and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%	4.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH	1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the NH average	33 minHighest 24% above NH
Work from home	15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8%	13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Milford and Alton 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	#55 of 120 in NH	#72 of 120 in NH
School district	Milford School District	Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District
High school in town	Milford High School	Prospect Mountain High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	11.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.