Compare towns
Milton vs Ossipee vs Ripton 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 youngest population (median age 45.7).
Ossipee has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Ossipee | Ripton | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,538Highest |
4,521 |
508Lowest |
2,721 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±2.4Lowest 17% above U.S. |
50±4.6 29% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Acton and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±5 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Ossipee 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% |
26.3%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Ossipee 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% |
24.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,493±$27k 17% above U.S. |
$90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Ripton 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. |
$325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Ripton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,587±$318Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
— | — |
| Ossipee and Milton 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. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.7%±24.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Ossipee 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% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% 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. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
33 min 27% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | — | #43 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Milton School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Acton Public Schools |
| High school in town | Nute High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.