Compare towns
Milton vs Acton vs Lyman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milton has the most renters (33.2% rent).
Acton has the highest household income ($79k).
Lyman has the shortest commute (24 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 | Milton | Acton | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 356Lowest |
2,721Highest |
464 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±11.3 45% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Lowest 36% above U.S. |
60.8±6.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Lyman and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.1%±13.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±6.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±14.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
38.6%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.7%±14.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Milton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $48,125±$21kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$78,750±$15kHighest about the U.S. average |
$71,042±$17k 12% below U.S. |
| Acton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$53kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$334,300±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$311,100±$66k 6% below U.S. |
| Acton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,245±$212Highest 12% below U.S. |
— | $1,147±$81Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Milton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,517 13% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$3,981Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.1%±34.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±100Lowest 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 | 9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1941Lowest 39 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.1%±14.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.7%±3.6Lowest 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 | #116 of 120 in NH | #43 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Acton Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.