Compare towns
Acton vs Livermore 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%).
Livermore has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Shapleigh has the most kids (20.7% 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.
| Measure | Acton | Livermore | Shapleigh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721 |
1,868Lowest |
2,976Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% ME: +2.6% |
+1.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
51.4±3.5 15% above ME |
46.9±10Lowest 5% above ME |
| Acton and Livermore 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% |
17%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Shapleigh and Livermore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
24.1%±4.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Acton and Livermore 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% |
21.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Livermore 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±$15k 5% above ME |
$70,441±$10kLowest 6% below ME |
$88,140±$9kHighest 18% above ME |
| Shapleigh and Acton 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 |
$221,800±$23kLowest 25% 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 |
$2,237Lowest 26% below ME |
$2,603 14% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
75%±100 ME: 48.4% |
27.3%±61.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Livermore 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% |
8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
95.7% ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 64% above ME |
27 minLowest 11% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.5%±7.7Lowest 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 73 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.