Compare towns

Acton vs Milton vs Windham

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).
Milton has the most renters (13.7% rent).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k 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.

MeasureActonMiltonWindham
People
Population
2,721Lowest
4,538
16,038Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
52.9±4.2Highest
36% above U.S.
45.7±2.4
17% above U.S.
41.1±2.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
Kids under 18
13.1%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.4%±5
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
26.2%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.1%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
21.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%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%
3.8%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Windham 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±$27k
17% above U.S.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$334,300±$34k
about the U.S. average
$318,400±$34kLowest
4% below U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,587±$318Lowest
12% above U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,680Lowest
14% below U.S.
$5,663
82% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
100%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.7%±24.9
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9Lowest
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%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
6 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.
33 min
26% above U.S.
31 minLowest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
18.2%±8.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.9%±6.7
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham 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 #13 of 120 in NH
School district Acton Public Schools Milton School District Windham School District
High school in town None in town Nute High School Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.6Lowest
12.8Highest
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.