Compare towns
Acton vs Dover vs Milton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Milton has the shortest commute (31 min average).
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 | Acton | Dover | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155 |
2,308Lowest |
28,587Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Dover and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Milton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Acton and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
71.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Milton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$188,529±$15k 81% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$933,200±$31k 66% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
— | $1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,677Lowest 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
31 minLowest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Acton 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | — | Milton |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.