Compare towns
Acton vs Durham vs Lee
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
15,080Highest |
4,576 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Lee 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% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
| Lee and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
| Durham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,661 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | 10 photos → |
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.