Compare towns
Acton vs Vinalhaven vs Newfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the highest household income ($79k).
Vinalhaven has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Newfield has the most affordable homes ($318k 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.
| Measure | Acton | Vinalhaven | Newfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Highest |
1,216Lowest |
1,580 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 18% above ME |
65.1±3.9Highest 45% above ME |
52.8±8.1Lowest 18% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
12.6%±3.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Acton and Newfield 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% |
50.4%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.9%±6 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2% ME: 36.2% |
45.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Acton and Vinalhaven 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 |
$72,963±$11k about the ME average |
$57,188±$20kLowest 23% below ME |
| Acton and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34k 13% above ME |
$428,400±$44kHighest 44% above ME |
$318,100±$27kLowest 7% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,017±$924 11% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680 12% below ME |
$3,598Highest 19% above ME |
$2,402Lowest 21% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
53.6%±41.5 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% ME: 74.3% |
86.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 min 64% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
49 minHighest 98% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Vinalhaven 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 | — | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school 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.