Compare towns
Acton vs Bow 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 the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Milton has the most affordable homes ($318k 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 | Bow | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
8,335Highest |
4,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.7±2.4 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Milton 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% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%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% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$94,493±$27k 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$1,587±$318Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Milton and Bow 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. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$5,663 82% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest 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. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #116 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Bow School District | Milton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Nute High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
10.6Lowest |
| 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.