Compare towns
Washington vs Acton vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the oldest population (median age 55).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Salisbury has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
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 | Washington | Acton | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208Lowest |
2,721Highest |
1,609 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55±4.7Highest 41% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Washington and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,453±$12k 11% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,600±$32k 8% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$363,400±$47kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$160Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,321 39% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$5,859Highest 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 34% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury 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 | Washington School District | Acton Public Schools | Merrimack Valley 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.