What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Stark has the most affordable homes ($198k 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.

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

Measure	Acton	Stark
People
Population	2,721Highest	419Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-14%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	52.9±4.2Lowest 36% above U.S.	58.8±3.6Highest 51% above U.S.
	Stark 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%	14.1%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Stark and Acton 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%	27.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stark 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	17.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,750±$15kHighest about the U.S. average	$71,750±$23kLowest 11% below U.S.
	Acton and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$334,300±$34kHighest about the U.S. average	$197,700±$34kLowest 41% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,680Highest 14% below U.S.	$2,636Lowest 15% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	66.7%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Acton and Stark 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%	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	92.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 53% above U.S.	34 minLowest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.9%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Acton and Stark 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	Stark 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.