Compare towns
Acton vs Milton vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k median).
Walpole has the most affordable homes ($687k 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.
| Measure | Acton | Milton | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Lowest |
28,587Highest |
26,388 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
41.1±1.8 about the MA average |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Milton and Walpole 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% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Acton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
71.9% MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$171,500±$16k 65% above MA |
| Milton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
| Walpole and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,677 61% above MA |
$8,523Lowest 42% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Acton and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 minLowest 8% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Milton 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 | #55 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Milton | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Milton High | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.4 |
11.3Lowest |
| 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.