What stands out worked out from the figures below

Acton has the most affordable homes ($334k median).

Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).

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	Auburn
People
Population	2,721Lowest	6,119Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S.	44.3±5.9Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Acton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.3%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Auburn and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Auburn and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average	$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average	$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,893±$822 34% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S.	$8,092Highest 159% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Acton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	93.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 53% above U.S.	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.
Work from home	18.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Auburn 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	#43 of 133 in ME	#44 of 120 in NH
School district	Acton Public Schools	Auburn School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.