Compare towns
Acton vs Brooklin vs Shapleigh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Brooklin has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Shapleigh has the most kids (20.7% 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.
| Measure | Acton | Brooklin | Shapleigh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721 |
869Lowest |
2,976Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% ME: +2.6% |
+0.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
49.2±3.7 10% above ME |
46.9±10Lowest 5% above ME |
| Acton and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Shapleigh and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.7%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
24.1%±4.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Acton and Brooklin 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 ME: 36.2% |
41.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
7.2%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooklin 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±$15k 5% above ME |
$68,750±$8kLowest 8% below ME |
$88,140±$9kHighest 18% above ME |
| Shapleigh and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34kLowest 13% above ME |
$339,400±$90k 14% above ME |
$356,000±$21kHighest 20% above ME |
| Shapleigh and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,236±$137Lowest 9% above ME |
$1,349±$133Highest 18% above ME |
| Shapleigh and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Highest 12% below ME |
$1,792Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,603 14% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
29.5%±25 ME: 48.4% |
27.3%±61.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.7% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 64% above ME |
26 minLowest 4% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.5%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
13%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Acton and Brooklin 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 | — | #76 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Brooklin Public Schools | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.