What stands out worked out from the figures below

Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Acton	Lancaster
People
Population	2,721Lowest	3,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S.	45.5±6.9Lowest 17% above U.S.
	Acton and Lancaster 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%	20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lancaster 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 U.S.: 17.2%	28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lancaster 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	30.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Acton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,750±$15kHighest about the U.S. average	$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S.
	Acton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$334,300±$34kHighest about the U.S. average	$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,019±$263 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S.	$4,226Highest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Acton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 53% above U.S.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Acton and Lancaster 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	#107 of 120 in NH
School district	Acton Public Schools	White Mountains Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.