Compare towns
Acton vs Kennebunk vs Newfield
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%).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Newfield has the most affordable homes ($318k 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 | Kennebunk | Newfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721 |
11,820Highest |
1,580Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 18% above ME |
54.6±3.3Highest 22% above ME |
52.8±8.1Lowest 18% above ME |
| Kennebunk and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±3Highest ME: 18.1% |
12.6%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Kennebunk and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.9%±6 ME: 22.4% |
| Kennebunk and Newfield 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% |
51.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Acton and Kennebunk 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 |
$107,804±$8kHighest 44% above ME |
$57,188±$20kLowest 23% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34k 13% above ME |
$487,700±$21kHighest 64% above ME |
$318,100±$27kLowest 7% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,425±$290 25% above ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680 12% below ME |
$4,999Highest 65% above ME |
$2,402Lowest 21% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±10.9 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Kennebunk 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% |
7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% ME: 74.3% |
80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 min 64% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
49 minHighest 98% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Kennebunk and Acton 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 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | RSU 21 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.