Compare towns
Acton vs Chapman 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%).
Chapman has the most affordable homes ($186k median).
Shapleigh has the most expensive homes ($356k 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 | Chapman | Shapleigh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721 |
388Lowest |
2,976Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | +9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
45.7±11.4Lowest about the ME average |
46.9±10 5% above ME |
| Acton and Shapleigh 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% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Shapleigh 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% |
27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.1%±4.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Chapman 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% |
22.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman 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 5% above ME |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
$88,140±$9k 18% above ME |
| Chapman and Shapleigh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34k 13% above ME |
$185,700±$22kLowest 37% below ME |
$356,000±$21kHighest 20% above ME |
| Shapleigh and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,349±$133 18% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Highest 12% below ME |
$1,850Lowest 39% below ME |
$2,603 14% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
27.3%±61.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Shapleigh 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% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 64% above ME |
23 minLowest 6% below ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Acton and Shapleigh 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 | — | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school 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.