Compare towns
Acton vs Milton vs Wayne
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 most kids (18.4% under 18).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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 | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721 |
4,538Highest |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
45.7±2.4Lowest 17% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Wayne 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% |
13.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Milton and Wayne 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% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne 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% |
48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne 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 |
$94,493±$27kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
| Milton and Wayne 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. |
$362,800±$29kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,587±$318Highest 12% above U.S. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Milton and Wayne 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. |
$5,663Highest 82% above U.S. |
$3,289 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±24.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne 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 | — |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Milton School District | RSU 38 |
| 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 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.