Compare towns
Acton vs Lancaster 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%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
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 | Lancaster | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
3,216 |
4,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
45.7±2.4 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Acton 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% |
30.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Lancaster 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 |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% 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±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% 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 | — | $1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,587±$318Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Milton and Lancaster 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. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
$5,663Highest 82% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest 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% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | #116 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | White Mountains Regional School District | 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 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.