Compare towns
Acton vs Whitefield 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%).
Whitefield has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Minot has the highest household income ($96k).
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 | Whitefield | Minot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721 |
2,157Lowest |
2,794Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
51.9±5.2 16% above ME |
49±6.1Lowest 9% above ME |
| Acton and Whitefield 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% |
17.6%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Whitefield 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% |
29.1%±4.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Whitefield 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% |
32.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Minot and Whitefield 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 |
$73,875±$10kLowest about the ME average |
$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 |
$242,300±$24kLowest 18% 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 | — | $895±$126Highest 21% below ME |
$878±$801Lowest 23% below ME |
| Whitefield and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Highest 12% below ME |
$2,366Lowest 22% below ME |
$2,602 14% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±22.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
35.7%±40.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Minot 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% |
7.1% ME: 10.7% |
6.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 64% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.5%±6.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Acton and Minot 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 12 | RSU 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.