Compare towns
Acton vs Baldwin vs Clifton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Baldwin has the youngest population (median age 50.6).
Clifton has the most affordable homes ($203k median).
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 | Acton | Baldwin | Clifton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Highest |
1,170 |
1,111Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
50.6±4.6Lowest 13% above ME |
52.7±7.1 18% above ME |
| Acton and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
12.1%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16%±7.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Clifton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±7.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Baldwin and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2% ME: 36.2% |
23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
8.6%±8.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Clifton and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15kHighest 5% above ME |
$68,045±$8kLowest 9% below ME |
$70,313±$16k 6% below ME |
| Acton and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$263,200±$38k 11% below ME |
$202,500±$67kLowest 32% below ME |
| Acton and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,217±$624 7% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Highest 12% below ME |
$2,540 16% below ME |
$1,838Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±42.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
81.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89% ME: 74.3% |
87.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 64% above ME |
32 min 32% above ME |
29 minLowest 19% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±4.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Acton and Clifton 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 | — | — |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.