Compare towns
Milton vs Exeter 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).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
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 | Exeter | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,538 |
16,151Highest |
2,721Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±2.4Lowest 17% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Milton and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%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%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter 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. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,587±$318Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
— |
| Exeter 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.7%±24.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Milton 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #43 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Milton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Acton Public Schools |
| High school in town | Nute High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Lowest |
12.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.