Compare towns
Acton vs Milton vs Webster
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 renters (13.7% rent).
Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721 |
4,538Highest |
2,227Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
45.7±2.4 17% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±5 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster 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% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Webster 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. |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Webster 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. |
$338,500±$30kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Webster 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. |
$1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Milton and Webster 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. |
$6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±24.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Lowest 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 | Milton School District | Merrimack Valley 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.