Compare towns
Acton vs Thomaston
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%).
Thomaston has the shortest commute (14 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 | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
2,769Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Lowest 18% above ME |
58.1±6.6Highest 30% above ME |
| Thomaston 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% |
19.2%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Thomaston 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 ME: 22.4% |
35.5%±8.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Thomaston 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 ME: 36.2% |
30.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Acton and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15kHighest 5% above ME |
$56,435±$13kLowest 24% below ME |
| Acton and Thomaston 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 |
$271,700±$10kLowest 8% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,262±$343 11% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Lowest 12% below ME |
$4,487Highest 48% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±23.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
73.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 3 yrs older than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 64% above ME |
14 minLowest 45% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #43 of 133 in ME | #99 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | RSU 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | 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.