Compare towns
Milton vs Acton vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milton has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k 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 | Milton | Acton | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,587Highest |
24,155 |
5,930Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
| Dover and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.3%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Acton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Milton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $188,529±$15k 81% above MA |
$158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $933,200±$31k 66% above MA |
$807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
| Dover and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,677Lowest 61% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Acton and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 8% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Dover 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 | #55 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Milton | Acton-Boxborough | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | Milton High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
13.5Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.