Compare towns
Ossipee vs Exeter vs Meredith vs Milton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ossipee has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Milton has the most homeowners (86.3%).
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 | Ossipee | Exeter | Meredith | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,521Lowest |
16,151Highest |
6,758 |
4,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50±4.6 15% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
45.7±2.4Lowest 6% above NH |
| Meredith and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| Ossipee and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.8% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,521±$22k 9% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$94,493±$27k 5% below NH |
| Exeter and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,500±$23k 19% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$318,400±$34kLowest 21% below NH |
| Meredith and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,601±$245 7% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,587±$318 6% above NH |
| Exeter and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$5,663 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.7%±24.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Milton 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1979 same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
33 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Exeter 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #116 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Milton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Nute High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.1 |
10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.