Compare towns
Acton vs Derry 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%).
Derry has the most expensive homes ($432k median).
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 | Derry | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
34,116Highest |
4,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
45.7±2.4 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Derry 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% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4%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% |
6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry 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 |
$108,944±$7kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$94,493±$27k 17% above U.S. |
| Derry and Milton 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 |
$432,000±$17kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$1,587±$318Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Milton and Derry 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. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$5,663 82% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9Lowest 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Milton 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 | #43 of 133 in ME | #60 of 120 in NH | #116 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Milton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | Nute High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9Highest |
10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.