Compare towns
Acton vs Liberty 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%).
Liberty has the most affordable homes ($230k 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 | Liberty | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721 |
969Lowest |
4,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
40.5±6.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
45.7±2.4 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Liberty 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% |
21.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Liberty 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% |
43.4%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% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Milton 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 |
$71,146±$15kLowest 12% 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 |
$229,600±$31kLowest 31% 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 | — | $559±$193Lowest 60% below U.S. |
$1,587±$318Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680 14% below U.S. |
$2,434Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$5,663Highest 82% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±42.4Lowest 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% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
38 min 45% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±8.8Lowest 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 | — | #116 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | 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.