Compare towns
Wilton vs Appleton vs Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilton has the highest household income ($114k).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Wilton | Appleton | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,960 |
1,360Lowest |
16,337Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5.2 20% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
36.8±2.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilton and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $114,349±$21kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$97,768±$14k 21% above U.S. |
| Wilton and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $381,500±$23k 15% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$398,800±$20kHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Milford and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,382±$70 about the U.S. average |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,661±$126Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,612Highest 144% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$7,522 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.1%±39.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.7%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wilton and Milford 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 | #54 of 120 in NH | — | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Appleton Public Schools | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School | None in town | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
— | 10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.