What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chester has the highest household income ($142k).

Acton has the most affordable homes ($334k median).

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	Chester	Acton
People
Population	5,300Highest	2,721Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.2±3.8Lowest 21% above U.S.	52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S.
	Acton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%	13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Chester and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Acton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chester and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S.	$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S.	$334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,464Highest 171% above U.S.	$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Acton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	96.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 33% above U.S.	40 minHighest 53% above U.S.
Work from home	16.4%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Acton and Chester 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	#90 of 120 in NH	#43 of 133 in ME
School district	Chester School District	Acton Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.