Compare towns
Acton vs Petersham vs Newfield
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 the most people working from home (18.2%).
Petersham has the highest household income ($111k).
Newfield has the most affordable homes ($318k 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 | Petersham | Newfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Highest |
1,185Lowest |
1,580 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
52.8±8.1Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Petersham and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Petersham 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±$15k about the U.S. average |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$57,188±$20kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Petersham 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±$34k about the U.S. average |
$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$318,100±$27kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,679±$441 19% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680 14% below U.S. |
$4,636Highest 49% above U.S. |
$2,402Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Newfield 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% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 min 53% above U.S. |
39 minLowest 46% above U.S. |
49 minHighest 85% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Petersham 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 | Petersham | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| 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.