Compare towns
Milton vs Derry vs Acton
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 affordable homes ($318k median).
Derry has the most expensive homes ($432k median).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Derry | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,538 |
34,116Highest |
2,721Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±2.4 17% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±5 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Derry and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,493±$27k 17% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Derry and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$432,000±$17kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,587±$318Highest 12% above U.S. |
$1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S. |
— |
| Milton and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,663 82% above U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.7%±24.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest 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 | 8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #43 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Milton School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Acton Public Schools |
| High school in town | Nute High School | Pinkerton Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Lowest |
13.9Highest |
— |
| 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.