What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alton has the highest household income ($114k).

Acton has the most people working from home (18.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Alton	Acton
People
Population	5,994Highest	2,721Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S.	52.9±4.2Lowest 36% above U.S.
	Alton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.4%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Alton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Acton and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Acton and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,715±$19kHighest 41% above U.S.	$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$430,400±$37kHighest 29% above U.S.	$334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,183Highest 34% above U.S.	$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Acton and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974 6 yrs older than U.S.	1974 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 25% above U.S.	40 minHighest 53% above U.S.
Work from home	13.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Acton and Alton 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	#72 of 120 in NH	#43 of 133 in ME
School district	Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District	Acton Public Schools
High school in town	Prospect Mountain High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.