Compare towns
Milton vs Dudley 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 highest household income ($94k).
Dudley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Dudley | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,538 |
11,929Highest |
2,721Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±2.4 17% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±5 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dudley and Milton 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% |
16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,493±$27kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Milton and Dudley 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. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,587±$318Highest 12% above U.S. |
$1,217±$182Lowest 14% below U.S. |
— |
| Milton and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,663Highest 82% above U.S. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.7%±24.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest 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% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #43 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Milton School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Acton Public Schools |
| High school in town | Nute High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Lowest |
14.3Highest |
— |
| 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.