What stands out worked out from the figures below

Acton has the most homeowners (96.1%).

Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).

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	Manchester
People
Population	2,721Lowest	115,643Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S.	38±1Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	18%±1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Manchester 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%	15.5%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	34%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.4%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Manchester 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	$81,007±$2kHighest about the U.S. average
	Manchester 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±$34kLowest about the U.S. average	$365,600±$7kHighest 10% above U.S.
	Manchester and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,564±$37 11% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S.	$5,922Highest 90% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	50%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Acton and Manchester 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%	11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	48.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 53% above U.S.	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.
Work from home	18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Acton and Manchester 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	#115 of 120 in NH
School district	Acton Public Schools	Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District
High school in town	None in town	Manchester Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	14.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	6 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.