Compare towns
Milton vs Northwood 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 shortest commute (33 min average).
Northwood has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Northwood | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,538 |
4,688Highest |
2,721Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±2.4 17% above U.S. |
42.4±7.8Lowest 9% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Milton and Northwood 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% |
21.5%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Northwood 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% |
38.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northwood 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. |
$129,375±$23kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Northwood 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. |
$363,000±$13kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Northwood and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,587±$318Highest 12% above U.S. |
$1,201±$372Lowest 15% below U.S. |
— |
| Milton and Northwood 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. |
$5,806Highest 86% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.7%±24.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.7%±29.2Lowest 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% |
7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 26% above U.S. |
37 min 38% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Milton and Northwood 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 | #24 of 120 in NH | #43 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Milton School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District | Acton Public Schools |
| High school in town | Nute High School | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Lowest |
11.5Highest |
— |
| 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.