What stands out worked out from the figures below

Acton has the oldest population (median age 52.9).

North Windham has the shortest commute (26 min average).

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	North Windham
People
Population	2,721Lowest	5,417Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	+7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME	42±3Lowest 6% below ME
Kids under 18	13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%	16.6%±4.1Highest ME: 18.1%
	North Windham 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 ME: 22.4%	18.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Acton and North Windham 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 ME: 36.2%	37%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.4%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	North Windham 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 5% above ME	$88,522±$8kHighest 18% above ME
	North Windham 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 13% above ME	$342,800±$29kHighest 16% above ME
	North Windham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,248±$604 10% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,680Lowest 12% below ME	$3,546Highest 17% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	30.7%±14.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Acton and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	80.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME	1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 64% above ME	26 minLowest 7% above ME
Work from home	18.2%±8.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	20.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	North Windham 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	—
School district	Acton Public Schools	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.