Compare towns

Acton vs York vs Milton

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 most homeowners (96.1%).
York has the most expensive homes ($636k median).
Milton has the youngest population (median age 45.7).

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.

MeasureActonYorkMilton
People
Population
2,721Lowest
13,986Highest
4,538
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
52.9±4.2Highest
36% above U.S.
49.5±5.2
27% above U.S.
45.7±2.4Lowest
17% above U.S.
Acton and York 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%
21.1%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.4%±5
U.S.: 22%
York and Milton 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%
27.9%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.1%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
York 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%
53.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
21.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Acton and York 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
$121,250±$25kHighest
50% above U.S.
$94,493±$27k
17% above U.S.
York 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
$636,400±$30kHighest
91% above U.S.
$318,400±$34kLowest
4% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,490±$336Lowest
5% above U.S.
$1,587±$318Highest
12% above U.S.
Milton and York 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.
$4,658
49% above U.S.
$5,663Highest
82% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
100%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.5%±10.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.7%±24.9
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%
5.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
40 minHighest
53% above U.S.
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
33 min
26% above U.S.
Work from home
18.2%±8.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
26%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.9%±6.7
U.S.: 15.1%
York 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 #13 of 133 in ME #116 of 120 in NH
School district Acton Public Schools York Public Schools Milton School District
High school in town None in town York High School Nute High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.6Lowest
10.6Highest
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.