The Town FilesActon, Maine
Town in York County · population 2,671 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $334,300
- Household income
- $78,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 81 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 52.9
Acton is a town of 2,671 people in York County, Maine. The median home is worth $334,300, above the typical Maine town ($238,950). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 97% of Maine towns, quieter than 96% of Maine towns, better for families than 90% of Maine towns.
- #1 in The 10 Best Small Towns for Young Families in Maine
- #2 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Maine
- #6 in The 50 Best Small Towns for Young Families in America
- #6 in The 50 Best Places for Young Families in America
- #11 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Maine
- #16 in The 50 Quietest Small Towns in America
How Acton ranks
Percentile among Maine towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Maine towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Acton is worth $334,300, above the typical Maine town ($238,950). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $78,750, which is more affordable than 25% of Maine towns. 96.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Acton | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $334,300 | $238,950 |
| Median rent | — | $1,027 |
| Median household income | $78,750 | $68,967 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 96.1% | 82.4% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 51.2% | — |
Who lives in Acton
| People | Acton | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.9 | 46.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.2% | 22.9% |
| Under 18 | 13.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.2% | 28.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.8% | 10.7% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 18.2% | 12.3% |
| Average commute | 40.4 min | 25.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.2% | 90.0% |
Weather in Acton
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 9.9°F. About 51.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 80.9 inches of snow (typical Maine town: 77.2 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 156 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Acton since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Maine town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 24, 2008 about 9.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 21, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 26, 2022.
Severe weather in York County since 1996
York County has been included in 42 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4785: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4764: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 14, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3598: Hurricane Lee |
| March 22, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4696: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| March 15, 2022 | Coastal Storm | DR-4647: Severe Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in York County
York County had 79,378 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,811 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Acton itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Public schools in Acton
1 public school with 245 students, about 12.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acton Elementary School | PK-8 | 245 | 12.9 |
Towns near Acton
- Wakefield, NH5.3 mi · 5,201 people · home $322,800
- Shapleigh, ME5.5 mi · 2,921 people · home $356,000
- Milton, NH6.9 mi · 4,482 people · home $318,400
- Lebanon, ME9.5 mi · 6,469 people · home $324,800
- Alfred, ME11.4 mi · 3,073 people · home $342,300
- Waterboro, ME11.5 mi · 7,936 people · home $297,000
- Farmington, NH11.6 mi · 3,824 people · home $229,600
- New Durham, NH11.8 mi · 2,693 people · home $339,400
Acton questions
Is Acton, Maine a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Acton scores better for retirees than 46% of Maine towns and quieter than 96%. 26.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.9).
How much does a house cost in Acton?
The median owner-occupied home in Acton is valued at $334,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,750, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Acton?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 9.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.3 inches of precipitation a year and 80.9 inches of snow.
Does Acton get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Acton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 24, 2008. The typical Maine town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)