What stands out worked out from the figures below

Milton has the most affordable homes ($318k median).

Northwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).

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	Northwood
People
Population	4,538Lowest	4,688Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.7±2.4Highest 6% above NH	42.4±7.8Lowest about the NH average
	Milton and Northwood 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%	18%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Milton and Northwood 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%	21.5%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Northwood and Milton 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 NH: 40.6%	38.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%	3.8%±2Highest NH: 6%
	Northwood 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±$27kLowest 5% below NH	$129,375±$23kHighest 31% above NH
	Northwood 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 21% below NH	$363,000±$13kHighest 10% below NH
	Northwood 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 6% above NH	$1,201±$372Lowest 19% below NH
	Milton and Northwood 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	$5,806Highest 13% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.7%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2%	23.7%±29.2Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Milton and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Highest NH: 7.2%	7.5%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	89%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH	1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 25% above NH	37 minHighest 37% above NH
Work from home	18.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8%	18.7%±6.8Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Milton and Northwood 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	#24 of 120 in NH
School district	Milton School District	Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District
High school in town	Nute High School	Coe-Brown Northwood Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Lowest	11.5Highest
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.