Compare towns
Acton vs Ogunquit vs Palermo vs Minot
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Palermo has the most affordable homes ($260k median).
Minot has the shortest commute (25 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.
| Measure | Acton | Ogunquit | Palermo | Minot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,721 |
1,379Lowest |
1,473 |
2,794Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 18% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
43.4±6.1Lowest 3% below ME |
49±6.1 9% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Palermo and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.7% ME: 36.2% |
25.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Minot and Ogunquit 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$89,095±$15k 19% above ME |
$95,655±$17k 28% above ME |
| Ogunquit 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 13% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$259,700±$54kLowest 12% below ME |
$294,900±$26k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,235±$1kHighest 8% above ME |
$878±$801Lowest 23% below ME |
| Palermo and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680 12% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,506Lowest 17% below ME |
$2,602 14% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100 ME: 48.4% |
35.7%±40.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Palermo 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.8% ME: 10.7% |
6.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
94.3% ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 64% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
31 min 24% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #43 of 133 in ME | — | — | #78 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | — | RSU 12 | 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 | 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.