What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Salisbury has the most kids (20.1% 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	Salisbury
People
Population	2,721Highest	1,609Lowest
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.	51.5±4.5Lowest 32% above U.S.
	Acton and Salisbury 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%	20.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Salisbury 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%	24.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Acton and Salisbury 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%	37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Acton and Salisbury 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	$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average	$363,400±$47kHighest 9% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,917±$632 36% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S.	$5,859Highest 88% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Acton and Salisbury 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%	7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 53% above U.S.	32 minLowest 21% above U.S.
Work from home	18.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salisbury 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	Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.