What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Windham has the shortest commute (26 min average).

Acton has the oldest population (median age 52.9).

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	North Windham	Acton
People
Population	5,417Highest	2,721Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42±3Lowest 6% below ME	52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME
Kids under 18	16.6%±4.1Highest ME: 18.1%	13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	North Windham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.2%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	Acton and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37%Highest ME: 36.2%	24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	North Windham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,522±$8kHighest 18% above ME	$78,750±$15kLowest 5% above ME
	North Windham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$342,800±$29kHighest 16% above ME	$334,300±$34kLowest 13% above ME
	North Windham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,248±$604 10% above ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,546Highest 17% above ME	$2,680Lowest 12% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.7%±14.3Lowest ME: 48.4%	100%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Acton and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%	7.8%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	96.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 7% above ME	40 minHighest 64% above ME
Work from home	20.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9%	18.2%±8.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	North Windham 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	—	Acton Public Schools
High school 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.