Compare towns
Clinton vs Acton vs Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Fairfield has the most kids (19.8% 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 | Clinton | Acton | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,385 |
2,721Lowest |
6,519Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.7±4.3 13% above ME |
52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
43.1±4Lowest 4% below ME |
| Acton and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±6.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.8%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Fairfield and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5.4 ME: 22.4% |
26.2%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Acton and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.9% ME: 36.2% |
24.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Clinton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,458±$39k 4% below ME |
$78,750±$15kHighest 5% above ME |
$64,101±$11kLowest 14% below ME |
| Acton and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,000±$28k 37% below ME |
$334,300±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$164,300±$28kLowest 45% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$118Highest 3% above ME |
— | $1,001±$101Lowest 12% below ME |
| Clinton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,910Lowest 37% below ME |
$2,680Highest 12% below ME |
$2,217 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 79.3%±26.4 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±12.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
10.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% ME: 74.3% |
96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest same as ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1975 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
40 minHighest 64% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 14.8%±11.3 ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±8.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Acton and Clinton 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 | #116 of 133 in ME | #43 of 133 in ME | #47 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | Acton Public Schools | RSU 49/MSAD 49 · Maine Academy of Natural Sciences |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lawrence High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.