What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% 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	Lancaster	Acton
People
Population	3,216Highest	2,721Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.5±6.9Lowest 17% above U.S.	52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S.
	Acton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22%	13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lancaster and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	26.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lancaster and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Acton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S.	$78,750±$15kHighest about the U.S. average
	Acton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S.	$334,300±$34kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,019±$263 28% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,226Highest 35% above U.S.	$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Acton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S.	1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.	40 minHighest 53% above U.S.
Work from home	11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Acton and Lancaster 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	#107 of 120 in NH	#43 of 133 in ME
School district	White Mountains Regional School District	Acton Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.