Compare towns
Acton vs Bar Harbor vs Milton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Bar Harbor has the most expensive homes ($538k median).
Milton has the most kids (18.4% 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 | Acton | Bar Harbor | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
5,244Highest |
4,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
49.2±5.9 26% above U.S. |
45.7±2.4Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Acton and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4 U.S.: 22% |
11.9%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Milton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15k about the U.S. average |
$77,180±$26kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$94,493±$27kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Milton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
$538,400±$94kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,106±$351Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,587±$318Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Milton and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$4,279 37% above U.S. |
$5,663Highest 82% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.6%±17.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±24.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bar Harbor 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 | #43 of 133 in ME | #2 of 133 in ME | #116 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD | Milton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt Desert Island High School | Nute High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.2Lowest |
10.6Highest |
| 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.