Compare towns
Acton vs Springfield vs Washington
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Springfield has the highest household income ($101k).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 55).
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 | Springfield | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Highest |
1,122Lowest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Lowest 32% above U.S. |
55±4.7Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Washington and Acton 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% |
15.1%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Acton 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% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington 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 about the U.S. average |
$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$89,453±$12k 11% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$358,600±$32k 8% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,106±$160Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Washington and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,321 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 30% above U.S. |
36 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Springfield 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 | — | Washington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.