Compare towns
Milton vs Lancaster 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 people working from home (18.9%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Boscawen has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
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 | Lancaster | Boscawen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,538Highest |
3,216Lowest |
4,044 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±2.4 6% above NH |
45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above 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%±5 NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster 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 NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.2%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lancaster 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 |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$77,328±$27k 22% below NH |
| Milton and Boscawen 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 |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$286,500±$23k 29% below NH |
| Milton and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,587±$318Highest 6% above NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,265±$307 15% below NH |
| Milton and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,663 15% below NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$6,549Highest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.7%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.2%±21 NH: 48.2% |
| Milton and Boscawen 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% |
16.7% NH: 7.2% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Milton and Lancaster 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | #51 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milton School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Nute High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
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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.