Compare towns
Milton vs Weare 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 renters (13.7% rent).
Weare has the highest household income ($118k).
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 | Weare | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,538 |
9,170Highest |
2,721Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±2.4 17% above U.S. |
45.6±4Lowest 17% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±5 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Weare and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Weare 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. |
$118,271±$17kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Weare 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. |
$396,300±$26kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,587±$318Highest 12% above U.S. |
$1,541±$214Lowest 9% above U.S. |
— |
| Milton and Weare 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. |
$6,272Highest 101% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.7%±24.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.2%±24.6Lowest 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 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 35% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Weare 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #43 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Milton School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Acton Public Schools |
| High school in town | Nute High School | John Stark Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Lowest |
11.4Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.