Compare towns
Milton vs Dover 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 kids (18.4% under 18).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Acton has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
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 | Dover | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,538 |
33,364Highest |
2,721Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±2.4 17% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Milton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Dover 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. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,587±$318Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
— |
| Dover and Milton 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. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.7%±24.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Milton 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 | #116 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #43 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Milton School District | Dover School District | Acton Public Schools |
| High school in town | Nute High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Lowest |
12.7Highest |
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| 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.