Compare towns
Milton vs Washington 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).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($359k median).
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 | Washington | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,538Highest |
1,208Lowest |
2,721 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±2.4Lowest 17% above U.S. |
55±4.7Highest 41% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
| Washington and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Milton and Washington 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% |
29%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Acton 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington 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. |
$89,453±$12k 11% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Milton and Washington 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. |
$358,600±$32kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Washington 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. |
$1,106±$160Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,663Highest 82% above U.S. |
$4,321 39% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.7%±24.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±88.9Lowest 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 26% above U.S. |
36 min 34% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest 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 | — | #43 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Milton School District | Washington 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.