Compare towns
Milford vs Exeter vs Deerfield
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 the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Deerfield has the most homeowners (91.3%).
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.
| Measure | Milford | Exeter | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
16,151 |
4,932Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
42.8±4.2 about the NH average |
| Exeter and Deerfield 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% |
20.9%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Deerfield 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% |
17.5%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
47.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$131,563±$10kHighest 33% above NH |
| Deerfield and Exeter 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 |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$421,000±$33k 5% above NH |
| Exeter and Deerfield 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 |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,593±$318Lowest 7% above NH |
| Exeter and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522 13% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$7,369Lowest 11% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Milford 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
34 minHighest 28% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.4%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Deerfield 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 | #61 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Deerfield 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 → | 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.