Compare towns
Milford vs Norwich vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milford has the most affordable homes ($399k median).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Norwich | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
3,640Lowest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Norwich 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 21% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 18% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522Lowest 141% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Norwich School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
U.S. 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.