What stands out worked out from the figures below

Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Milton	Exeter
People
Population	28,587Highest	16,151Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.1±1.8Lowest 6% above U.S.	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.
Kids under 18	25.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	71.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$188,529±$15kHighest 134% above U.S.	$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$933,200±$31kHighest 180% above U.S.	$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,474±$281Lowest 4% above U.S.	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.
	Exeter and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,677Highest 210% above U.S.	$8,814Lowest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.7%±20.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7% U.S.: 12.5%	4.7% U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 19% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	29.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#55 of 282 in MA	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	Milton	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Milton High	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Highest	12.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.