What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Milton	Springfield
People
Population	4,538Lowest	9,084Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.7±2.4Highest 17% above U.S.	43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Milton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Springfield 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%	23.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	23.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4%	2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,493±$27kHighest 17% above U.S.	$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below U.S.
	Milton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$318,400±$34kHighest 4% below U.S.	$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,587±$318Highest 12% above U.S.	$963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,663Highest 82% above U.S.	$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.7%±24.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	49.6%±15.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Milton and Springfield 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%	14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 26% above U.S.	27 minLowest 3% above U.S.
Work from home	18.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.1%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Milton and Springfield 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 70 in VT
School district	Milton School District	River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District
High school in town	Nute High School	Springfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Lowest	14.3Highest
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.