Compare towns
Acton vs Exeter vs Lee 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%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Lee has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Milton has the highest household income ($94k).
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 | Exeter | Lee | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,721 |
1,093 |
925Lowest |
4,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
52.6±7.7 35% above U.S. |
51.5±11.5 32% above U.S. |
45.7±2.4Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Acton and Exeter 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% |
9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Lee 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% |
23.9%±11.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee 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±$15k about the U.S. average |
$84,408±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$49,886±$5kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$94,493±$27kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Milton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$166,700±$39kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$174,500±$25k 48% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
| Acton and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $995±$386Lowest 30% below U.S. |
— | $1,587±$318Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Milton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680 14% below U.S. |
$1,602 49% below U.S. |
$1,547Lowest 50% below U.S. |
$5,663Highest 82% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
80%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±24.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Lee 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% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±4.7 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 | — | — | #116 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | — | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | Milton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Nute High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.