Compare towns
Brookfield vs Acton vs Washington
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%).
Washington has the highest household income ($89k).
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 | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Lowest |
2,721Highest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.1±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Lowest 36% above U.S. |
55±4.7 41% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Washington 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% |
13.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Washington 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% |
29%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Washington 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 |
$89,453±$12kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Washington 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±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$358,600±$32k 8% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,106±$160 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,926Highest 90% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$4,321 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Washington 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
36 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Washington 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 | Washington 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.