Compare towns

Brookfield vs Acton vs Middleton

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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Middleton has the most kids (18.9% 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.

MeasureBrookfieldActonMiddleton
People
Population
567Lowest
2,721Highest
1,595
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
58.1±9.7Highest
49% above U.S.
52.9±4.2
36% above U.S.
43.5±5.7Lowest
12% 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%
18.9%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Middleton 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%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
18.9%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
24.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
23.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.9Lowest
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
$101,696±$8kHighest
26% above U.S.
Middleton 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
$312,300±$27kLowest
6% below U.S.
Brookfield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly — —
$1,500±$293
6% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,926Highest
90% above U.S.
$2,680Lowest
14% below U.S.
$5,504
76% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent —
100%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
83.3%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Acton and Middleton 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%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
98.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.5%
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.
39 min
47% above U.S.
Work from home
13.7%±6.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.2%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.1%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Acton and Middleton 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 Middleton School District
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.