Compare towns
Marlow vs Acton vs Alstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlow has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Alstead has the most renters (24% rent).
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 | Marlow | Acton | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 855Lowest |
2,721Highest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7Lowest 36% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Marlow and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marlow and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,455±$12kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15k about the U.S. average |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,400±$49k about the U.S. average |
$334,300±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Acton and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$160 18% below U.S. |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,826Highest 87% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$5,322 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 33% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Alstead 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 | Marlow School District | Acton Public Schools | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 4 photos → | 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.