What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoddard has the most kids (17.5% under 18).

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	Stoddard	Acton
People
Population	1,072Lowest	2,721Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53±4Highest 36% above U.S.	52.9±4.2Lowest 36% above U.S.
	Stoddard and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%	13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Stoddard and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Acton and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Acton and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,904±$11kHighest 18% above U.S.	$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average
	Stoddard and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average	$334,300±$34kHighest about the U.S. average
	Acton and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$895±$751 37% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,316Highest 38% above U.S.	$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.6%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Acton and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 27% above U.S.	40 minHighest 53% above U.S.
Work from home	9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Acton and Stoddard 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	Stoddard 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.