Compare towns
Milton vs Walpole 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).
Walpole has the shortest commute (23 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 | Walpole | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,538Highest |
3,690 |
2,721Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±2.4Lowest 17% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Acton and Walpole 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% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole 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% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Walpole 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% |
32.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walpole 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±$27kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Milton and Walpole 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. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$334,300±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Acton and Walpole 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. |
$1,165±$150Lowest 18% below U.S. |
— |
| Milton and Walpole 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. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.7%±24.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Lowest 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% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%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. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest 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 | #27 of 120 in NH | #43 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Milton School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Acton Public Schools |
| High school in town | Nute High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — |
| 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.