Compare towns
Milford vs Exeter vs Brentwood
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milford has the youngest population (median age 36.8).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Milford | Exeter | Brentwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
16,151 |
4,641Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Exeter and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$528,100±$75kHighest 31% above NH |
| Brentwood and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
| Brentwood and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$9,713Highest 46% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Brentwood and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #16 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Brentwood School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 6 photos → |
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.