Compare towns
Acton vs Middlesex 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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Minot has the most affordable homes ($295k 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 | Middlesex | Minot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721 |
1,943Lowest |
2,794Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49±6.1 26% above U.S. |
| Acton and Minot 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Minot 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Minot 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Minot 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$95,655±$17k 18% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Minot 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$294,900±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$878±$801Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$2,602Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
35.7%±40.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Minot 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.8%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #78 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | RSU 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.