Compare towns
Milton vs Exeter vs Boston vs Walpole
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 most expensive homes ($933k median).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Boston has the most renters (64.3% rent).
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 | Boston | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,587 |
16,151Lowest |
666,442Highest |
26,388 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8 6% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
33.3±0.2Lowest 14% below U.S. |
40.9±1.2 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Milton and Walpole 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% |
13%±0.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
15%±0.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $188,529±$15kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$97,344±$2kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$171,500±$16k 112% above U.S. |
| Milton and Walpole 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. |
$731,700±$10k 120% above U.S. |
$687,100±$20k 107% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,147±$25 52% above U.S. |
$2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Boston 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. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$4,456Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$8,523 173% 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% |
51.2%±1.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Boston 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% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
35.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 19% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±0.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Milton and Walpole 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 | #258 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Milton | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | Milton High | Exeter High School | Boston Latin School | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
12.1 |
18.7Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.