Compare towns
Acton vs Williston vs Minot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Minot has the most affordable homes ($295k 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 | Williston | Minot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
10,144Highest |
2,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
49±6.1 26% above U.S. |
| Acton and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Minot 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Minot 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 about the U.S. average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$95,655±$17k 18% above U.S. |
| Williston and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$294,900±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$878±$801Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680 14% below U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$2,602Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
35.7%±40.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1993 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.8%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #78 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 |
U.S. 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.