Compare towns
Acton vs Mapleton vs Milton vs Sidney
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).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Milton has the most people working from home (18.9%).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
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 | Mapleton | Milton | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,721 |
1,884Lowest |
4,538 |
4,790Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.7±2.4 17% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±5 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Sidney 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% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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 |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$94,493±$27kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
| Milton and Mapleton 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Sidney and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,587±$318Highest 12% above U.S. |
$1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
| Milton and Sidney 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,663Highest 82% above U.S. |
$2,474 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±24.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 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 | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Milton School District | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Nute High School | None in town |
| 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.