What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cushing has the shortest commute (23 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Cushing	Acton
People
Population	1,460Lowest	2,721Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.8±7.7Lowest 9% above ME	52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME
	Acton and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.1%±4Highest ME: 18.1%	13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Cushing and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.2%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	Acton and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.4%Highest ME: 36.2%	24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Acton and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,500±$19kHighest 12% above ME	$78,750±$15kLowest 5% above ME
	Cushing and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME	$334,300±$34kLowest 13% above ME
	Cushing and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,553±$376 36% above ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,944Highest 30% above ME	$2,680Lowest 12% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.7%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4%	100%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Acton and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%	7.8%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%	96.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 5% below ME	40 minHighest 64% above ME
Work from home	18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9%	18.2%±8.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Cushing and Acton 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	RSU 13	Acton Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.