Compare towns
Acton vs Sumner vs Minot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Sumner has the most affordable homes ($150k median).
Minot has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Sumner | Minot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721 |
845Lowest |
2,794Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 18% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
49±6.1Lowest 9% above ME |
| Sumner 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 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Sumner and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner 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% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Minot 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 5% above ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$95,655±$17kHighest 28% above ME |
| Minot 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±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$294,900±$26k about the ME average |
| Acton and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $878±$801 23% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Highest 12% below ME |
$2,167Lowest 29% below ME |
$2,602 14% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
35.7%±40.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 min 64% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner 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 | — | #78 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | RSU 10 | RSU 16 |
| 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 |
ME 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.