What stands out worked out from the figures below

Minot has the shortest commute (25 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	Minot	Acton
People
Population	2,794Highest	2,721Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49±6.1Lowest 9% above ME	52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME
	Acton and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1%	13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Minot and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.3%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.2%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	Acton and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Minot and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,655±$17kHighest 28% above ME	$78,750±$15kLowest 5% above ME
	Minot and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$294,900±$26kLowest about the ME average	$334,300±$34kHighest 13% above ME
	Acton and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$878±$801 23% below ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,602Lowest 14% below ME	$2,680Highest 12% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.7%±40.7Lowest ME: 48.4%	100%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Acton and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%	7.8%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96%Lowest ME: 74.3%	96.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	40 minHighest 64% above ME
Work from home	16.8%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	18.2%±8.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Acton and Minot 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	#78 of 133 in ME	#43 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 16	Acton Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.