Compare towns
Acton vs Carmel vs Windsor
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%).
Carmel has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Windsor has the most kids (23.2% 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 | Carmel | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721 |
2,941Highest |
2,690Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.6% ME: +2.6% |
+2.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
46.4±4.5 4% above ME |
43.5±8Lowest about the ME average |
| Acton and Carmel 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% |
18.6%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
23.2%±6.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Windsor and Carmel 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% |
16.5%±5 ME: 22.4% |
14.3%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Acton and Carmel 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 ME: 36.2% |
17.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Acton and Windsor 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 |
$82,188±$22kHighest 10% above ME |
$63,178±$5kLowest 15% below ME |
| Carmel 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±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$256,800±$37k 13% below ME |
$228,800±$22kLowest 23% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,276±$187Highest 12% above ME |
$1,265±$400Lowest 11% above ME |
| Carmel and Windsor 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 |
$2,662 12% below ME |
$2,160Lowest 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±38.1 ME: 48.4% |
46.2%±31.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Carmel 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% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 64% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
36 min 45% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Acton and Carmel 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 | #77 of 133 in ME | #44 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | RSU 12 |
| 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.