Compare towns
Milton vs Dover vs Boscawen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milton has the most homeowners (86.3%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Boscawen has the most affordable homes ($287k median).
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 | Dover | Boscawen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,538 |
33,364Highest |
4,044Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±2.4 6% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
46±4.2Highest 6% above NH |
| Boscawen 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% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Milton and Boscawen 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% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
25.2%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,493±$27k 5% below NH |
$94,829±$7kHighest 4% below NH |
$77,328±$27kLowest 22% below NH |
| Dover and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k 21% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$286,500±$23kLowest 29% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,587±$318 6% above NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,265±$307Lowest 15% below NH |
| Dover and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,663Lowest 15% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$6,549 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.7%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.2%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Milton and Dover 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% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Milton and Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #51 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milton School District | Dover School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Nute High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Lowest |
12.7Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.