Compare towns
Clinton vs Mapleton vs Fairfield vs Acton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Fairfield has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Mapleton | Fairfield | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,385 |
1,884Lowest |
6,519Highest |
2,721 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.7±4.3 13% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
43.1±4 4% below ME |
52.9±4.2Highest 18% above 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.8%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Fairfield 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.2%±4.9Highest 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
24.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Clinton 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$64,101±$11kLowest 14% below ME |
$78,750±$15k 5% above ME |
| Mapleton and Acton 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 |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$164,300±$28kLowest 45% below ME |
$334,300±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$118Highest 3% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,001±$101 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 | $1,910 37% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,217 27% below ME |
$2,680Highest 12% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 79.3%±26.4 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±12.7 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest same as ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1975 2 yrs older than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
40 minHighest 64% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.8%±11.3 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±8.5Highest 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 | — | #47 of 133 in ME | #43 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 · Maine Academy of Natural Sciences | Acton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lawrence High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.