Compare towns
Milford vs Exeter vs Swanzey
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 most kids (23.7% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Swanzey has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
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 | Swanzey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
16,151 |
7,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
| Swanzey and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Swanzey 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% |
24.2%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Lowest 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±$14k about the NH average |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$81,595±$11kLowest 18% below NH |
| Exeter 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±$20k about the NH average |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,508±$303Lowest about the NH average |
| 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 |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Exeter 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% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
71.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 7% below NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Milford 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 | #102 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Exeter High School | Monadnock Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.1 |
12.8Highest |
| 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.