What stands out worked out from the figures below

Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Acton	Plaistow
People
Population	2,721Lowest	7,861Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S.	40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S.
Kids under 18	13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Plaistow 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 U.S.: 17.2%	17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	34.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Acton and Plaistow 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	$108,317±$13kHighest 34% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average	$404,500±$32kHighest 22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,664±$187 18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S.	$7,194Highest 131% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	55.3%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Acton and Plaistow 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%	4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 53% above U.S.	29 minLowest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Acton and Plaistow 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	#66 of 120 in NH
School district	Acton Public Schools	Timberlane Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	Timberlane Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.