Compare towns
Milton vs Exeter vs Ossipee vs Acton
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 affordable homes ($318k median).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Ossipee has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Acton has the most homeowners (96.1%).
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 | Ossipee | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,538 |
16,151Highest |
4,521 |
2,721Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±2.4Lowest 17% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
50±4.6 29% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Acton and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±5 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ossipee and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ossipee and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,493±$27k 17% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter 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±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
$334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,587±$318Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,601±$245 13% above U.S. |
— |
| Exeter and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,663 82% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.7%±24.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 min 27% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #116 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #100 of 120 in NH | #43 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Milton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Acton Public Schools |
| High school in town | Nute High School | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Lowest |
12.1Highest |
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| 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.