What stands out worked out from the figures below

Milton has the most kids (18.4% under 18).

Lyman has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).

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	Lyman
People
Population	4,538Lowest	4,612Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.7±2.4Lowest 17% above U.S.	53.8±2Highest 38% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22%	15.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Milton and Lyman 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%	26.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	25.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lyman 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 17% above U.S.	$87,284±$14kLowest 8% above U.S.
	Milton and Lyman 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.	$360,400±$44kHighest 8% above U.S.
	Lyman and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,587±$318Highest 12% above U.S.	$1,063±$522Lowest 25% below U.S.
	Milton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,663Highest 82% above U.S.	$2,717Lowest 13% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.7%±24.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±44.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Milton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 26% above U.S.	33 minLowest 26% above U.S.
Work from home	18.9%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1%	18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#116 of 120 in NH	#40 of 133 in ME
School district	Milton School District	RSU 57/MSAD 57
High school in town	Nute High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.