Compare towns
Freedom vs Acton vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freedom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Acton has the most affordable homes ($334k median).
Washington has the highest household income ($89k).
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 | Freedom | Acton | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,494 |
2,721Highest |
1,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.6±3.2Highest 56% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Lowest 36% above U.S. |
55±4.7 41% above U.S. |
| Freedom and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Washington and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 40.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,136±$14kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$78,750±$15k about the U.S. average |
$89,453±$12kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Washington and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,000±$43kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$358,600±$32k 8% above U.S. |
| Freedom and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,106±$160 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,478 12% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$4,321Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 79.6%±75 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
36 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Freedom 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 | Freedom School District | Acton Public Schools | Washington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.