Compare towns
Acton vs Bow vs Minot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Minot has the most affordable homes ($295k 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 | Bow | Minot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
8,335Highest |
2,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49±6.1 26% above U.S. |
| Acton and Minot 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% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Minot 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 |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$95,655±$17k 18% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$294,900±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$878±$801Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Bow and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680 14% below U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$2,602Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
35.7%±40.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Bow 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.8%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #78 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Bow School District | RSU 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.