Compare towns
Candia vs Acton 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
Candia has the highest household income ($120k).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Milton has the most kids (18.4% 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 | Candia | Acton | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,134 |
2,721Lowest |
4,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±3.8 24% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
45.7±2.4Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Acton and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Milton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.1%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Candia and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,737±$37kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$94,493±$27k 17% above U.S. |
| Candia and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,600±$46kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,213±$554Lowest 14% below U.S. |
— | $1,587±$318Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Milton and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,100Highest 96% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$5,663 82% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±21.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest 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 | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.7Highest 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 | #41 of 120 in NH | #43 of 133 in ME | #116 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Candia School District | Acton Public Schools | Milton School District |
| High school in town | None 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.