Compare towns
Acton vs Hardwick 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%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
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 | Hardwick | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721 |
2,684Lowest |
4,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Lowest 16% above U.S. |
45.7±2.4 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick 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% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Hardwick 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% |
30.9%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% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick 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 |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% 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 |
$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,587±$318Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$5,663Highest 82% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Lowest 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% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #116 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Quabbin | 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 |
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.