Compare towns
Acton vs Exeter 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).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k 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 | Exeter | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
16,151Highest |
4,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
45.7±2.4Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Milton and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Exeter 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% |
59.2%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%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$94,493±$27k 17% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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 |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,587±$318Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Milton 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,663 82% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Lowest 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #116 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Milton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Nute High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.