Compare towns
Acton vs Meredith vs Minot
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Meredith has the most expensive homes ($480k median).
Minot has the most kids (16.4% 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 | Meredith | Minot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
6,758Highest |
2,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
49±6.1Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Meredith 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 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Minot and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith 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% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Minot 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 |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$95,655±$17kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Minot and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$294,900±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,149±$304Highest 19% below U.S. |
$878±$801Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680 14% below U.S. |
$5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
$2,602Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
35.7%±40.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Meredith 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.8%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #78 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | RSU 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.