Compare towns
Acton vs Milton vs Wolfeboro
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).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k 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 | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
4,538 |
6,571Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
45.7±2.4Lowest 17% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro 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% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Milton and Wolfeboro 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro 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% |
45%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% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Wolfeboro 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. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Milton and Wolfeboro 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. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,587±$318Highest 12% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$5,663Highest 82% above U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±24.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%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. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Milton School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Nute High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.