Compare towns
Stoddard vs Acton vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Acton has the most homeowners (96.1%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Stoddard | Acton | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,072 |
2,721Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% 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%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Stoddard 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% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest 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±$11k 18% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Nelson and Stoddard 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±$34k about the U.S. average |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Nelson and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
— | $1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,316 38% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | Stoddard School District | Acton Public Schools | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.