What stands out worked out from the figures below

Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Acton	Athol
People
Population	2,721Lowest	12,011Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S.	41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Acton and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,750±$15kHighest about the U.S. average	$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S.
	Acton and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$334,300±$34kHighest about the U.S. average	$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,150±$182 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S.	$3,403Highest 9% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	57.5%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Acton and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 53% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Acton and Athol 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	#43 of 133 in ME	#256 of 282 in MA
School district	Acton Public Schools	Athol-Royalston
High school in town	None in town	Athol High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.6
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.