What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).

Acton has the most people working from home (18.2%).

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	Newfield	Acton
People
Population	1,580Lowest	2,721Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	52.8±8.1Lowest 18% above ME	52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME
	Acton and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.6%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1%	13.1%±4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Acton and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.9%±6Highest ME: 22.4%	26.2%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Newfield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	24.2%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Acton and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,188±$20kLowest 23% below ME	$78,750±$15kHighest 5% above ME
	Acton and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$318,100±$27kLowest 7% above ME	$334,300±$34kHighest 13% above ME
	Acton and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,402Lowest 21% below ME	$2,680Highest 12% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%	100%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Acton and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.5%Highest ME: 10.7%	7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	96.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest same as ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	49 minHighest 98% above ME	40 minLowest 64% above ME
Work from home	6.1%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9%	18.2%±8.5Highest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#43 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 57/MSAD 57	Acton Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.