What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whitefield has the most kids (17.6% 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	Whitefield	Acton
People
Population	2,157Lowest	2,721Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	51.9±5.2Lowest 16% above ME	52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME
	Acton and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.6%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1%	13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Whitefield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.1%±4.6Highest ME: 22.4%	26.2%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Whitefield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.7%Highest ME: 36.2%	24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±2Highest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Whitefield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,875±$10kLowest about the ME average	$78,750±$15kHighest 5% above ME
	Acton and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$242,300±$24kLowest 18% below ME	$334,300±$34kHighest 13% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$895±$126 21% below ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,366Lowest 22% below ME	$2,680Highest 12% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±22.1Lowest ME: 48.4%	100%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Acton and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%	7.8%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	96.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 23% above ME	40 minHighest 64% above ME
Work from home	13.5%±6.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	18.2%±8.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Acton and Whitefield 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 12	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.