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 kids (18.4% under 18).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721 |
4,538Highest |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
45.7±2.4 17% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Milton and Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Windham 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% |
48.1%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% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Windham 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. |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Windham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,587±$318 12% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$5,663 82% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±24.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest 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% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest 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 | — |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Milton School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Nute High School | — |
| 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.