Compare towns
Milford vs Exeter vs Lyndeborough vs Brookline
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
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 | Lyndeborough | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
16,151 |
1,616Lowest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
| Lyndeborough and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Lyndeborough 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% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Exeter 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 |
$116,964±$17k 18% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$390,900±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,482±$457Lowest about the NH average |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
| Brookline and Exeter 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 |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$7,133Lowest 7% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
92.4% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline 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 | — | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.