Compare towns
Milton vs Exeter vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milton has the highest household income ($189k).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (30.4%).
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 | Milton | Exeter | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,587 |
16,151Lowest |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Milton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest 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% |
8.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Milton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $188,529±$15kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
| Milton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $933,200±$31kHighest 180% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Andover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,677 210% above U.S. |
$8,814Lowest 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Milton 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 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Milton | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Milton High | Exeter High School | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
12.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
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.