Compare towns
Brookfield vs Acton vs Marlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Marlow has the most kids (20.5% 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 | Brookfield | Acton | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Lowest |
2,721Highest |
855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.1±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
52.8±11.7Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marlow and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,406±$31k about the U.S. average |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$110,455±$12kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Marlow and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,000±$61kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
$325,400±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Brookfield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,154±$160 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,926Highest 90% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$5,826 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Brookfield 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 | — |
| School district | — | Acton Public Schools | Marlow School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 4 photos → |
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.