What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).

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	Wayne	Acton
People
Population	1,101Lowest	2,721Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME	52.9±4.2Lowest 18% above ME
	Wayne and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.4%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1%	13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Wayne and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4%	26.2%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Wayne and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Wayne and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME	$78,750±$15kLowest 5% above ME
	Wayne and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME	$334,300±$34kLowest 13% above ME
	Wayne and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$983±$554 14% below ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,289Highest 8% above ME	$2,680Lowest 12% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4%	100%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Acton and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%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	30 minLowest 24% above ME	40 minHighest 64% above ME
Work from home	26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9%	18.2%±8.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Wayne 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	RSU 38	Acton Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.