Compare towns
Acton vs Windham 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).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
Minot has the shortest commute (25 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 | Windham | Minot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
16,038Highest |
2,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Minot and Windham 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 |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$95,655±$17k 18% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$294,900±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$878±$801Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680 14% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,602Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
35.7%±40.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Windham 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1994 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.8%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #78 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Windham School District | RSU 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.