What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dublin has the most kids (21.4% under 18).

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	Dublin	Acton
People
Population	1,688Lowest	2,721Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.3±8.4Lowest 27% above U.S.	52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S.
	Acton and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	25%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Acton and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dublin and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,659±$14kHighest 30% above U.S.	$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average
	Dublin and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$430,500±$72kHighest 29% above U.S.	$334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average
	Dublin and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,325±$165 6% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,165Highest 162% above U.S.	$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.2%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Acton and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% above U.S.	40 minHighest 53% above U.S.
Work from home	22%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	18.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dublin 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	Contoocook Valley School District	Acton Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.