What stands out worked out from the figures below

Milton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.5%).

Columbia has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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	Columbia
People
Population	4,538Highest	683Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.5%Highest NH: +4.6%	-12.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.7±2.4Lowest 6% above NH	51.8±10.1Highest 20% above NH
	Columbia and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±5Highest NH: 18.2%	17.4%±5.2Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Milton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.1%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1%	29.9%±8.3Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.7%Highest NH: 40.6%	14.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%	7%±3.7Highest NH: 6%
	Columbia and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,493±$27kHighest 5% below NH	$57,917±$13kLowest 42% below NH
	Milton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$318,400±$34kHighest 21% below NH	$196,400±$29kLowest 51% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,587±$318Highest 6% above NH	$792±$333Lowest 47% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,663Highest 15% below NH	$2,009Lowest 70% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.7%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2%	9.1%±95.8Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Milton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%	10.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	91.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above NH	20 minLowest 24% below NH
Work from home	18.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8%	11.2%±6.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Milton and Columbia 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	#116 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Milton School District	—
High school in town	Nute High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	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.