Compare towns
Acton vs Milton vs Rye
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%).
Milton has the youngest population (median age 45.7).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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 | Milton | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
4,538 |
5,611Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
45.7±2.4Lowest 17% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Rye and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Milton and Rye 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% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye 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% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest 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±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$94,493±$27k 17% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rye 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 |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,587±$318Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Rye 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. |
$5,663 82% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±24.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest 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% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #116 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Milton School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Nute High School | None in town |
| 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.