Compare towns
Acton vs Grantham vs Springfield
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 most people working from home (18.2%).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k 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 | Grantham | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721 |
3,465Highest |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
50.4±7.5Lowest 30% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
| Acton and Springfield 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% |
19.1%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
| Grantham and Springfield 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% |
17%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Springfield 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% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grantham 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 about the U.S. average |
$106,403±$54kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
| Grantham and Springfield 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 |
$343,100±$39k 3% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$7,605Highest 144% above U.S. |
$5,946 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— | 25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Springfield 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% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Springfield 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 | #6 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Grantham School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.