What stands out worked out from the figures below

Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).

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	Walpole	Acton
People
Population	3,690Highest	2,721Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.5±10.4Lowest 20% above U.S.	52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S.
	Acton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%	13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Walpole and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Acton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Walpole and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average	$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average
	Walpole and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$319,800±$48kLowest 4% below U.S.	$334,300±$34kHighest about the U.S. average
	Acton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,165±$150 18% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,078Highest 95% above U.S.	$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.6%±21.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Acton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.	40 minHighest 53% above U.S.
Work from home	7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Acton and Walpole 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	#27 of 120 in NH	#43 of 133 in ME
School district	Fall Mountain Regional School District	Acton Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.