Compare towns
Acton vs Wayne vs Winthrop
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%).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Winthrop has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
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 | Wayne | Winthrop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721 |
1,101Lowest |
6,191Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 18% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
43.6±5.3Lowest about the ME average |
| Wayne 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% |
13.4%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Winthrop and Wayne 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% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.4%±5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne 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% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
40% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne 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 5% above ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$86,470±$4k 16% above ME |
| Wayne and Winthrop 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 |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$294,800±$41kLowest about the ME average |
| Wayne and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $983±$554Highest 14% below ME |
$892±$319Lowest 22% below ME |
| Wayne and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Lowest 12% below ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
$3,506Highest 15% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.8%±22.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
12.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 64% above ME |
30 minLowest 24% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
23.1%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Winthrop 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 | — | #12 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | RSU 38 | Winthrop Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Winthrop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7 |
| 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.