Compare towns
Webster vs Acton vs Middleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Middleton has the most affordable homes ($312k median).
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 | Webster | Acton | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227 |
2,721Highest |
1,595Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
43.5±5.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Acton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$101,696±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| Webster and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,500±$30kHighest about the U.S. average |
$334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
$312,300±$27kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Webster and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,500±$293Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$5,504 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
39 min 47% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Webster 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 | Merrimack Valley School District | Acton Public Schools | Middleton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.