Acton is a rural town in southern Maine’s lake region
Deep in the southern Maine countryside is the town of Acton, a serene rural enclave in a region defined by its prominent nature preserves and lakes. Balsam fir, cedar and maple trees line the local streets to create a dense canopy and silent atmosphere, which is occasionally interrupted by birdsong and the sound of rushing water. Rustic homes here sit on large plots of land and are often situated deep in wooded areas, giving residents a sense of privacy. The town’s main road, Route 109, travels through the community and connects to a series of winding backroads before eventually leading to the nearby town of Wakefield, NH, roughly 8 miles away. “Acton’s location on the Maine/New Hampshire border offers great commutes via Route 16,” says Tammy Baker, a local broker and Realtor with Lakes Region Realty. Route 109 feeds into Route 16 in Wakefield and then runs down to Rochester. Acton has an overall CAP Index crime score of 1 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4. “It is truly a charming town,” Baker says. “Lots of very friendly folks willing to help their neighbors.”
Mix of historic farms, log cabins and newer country homes
“Due to lake living, there are a lot of large homes and log cabins,” Baker says. “There is also a 55-plus rural subdivision and some newer subdivisions, which are also ‘rural’ in nature and attract a lot of folks. There are a lot of farms characteristic of the late 1700s and 1800s which offer that type of historic charm.” Wooden Cape Cod dwellings and bungalows are scattered throughout the area, as are homes with Colonial-influenced architectural styles. Split-levels and ranch styles are also common here. Home prices in Acton vary greatly, but single-family homes generally sell between $350,000 and $600,000, although many waterfront residences can cost upward of $900,000. Baker also notes that there are several rustic camping areas and large parcels of land for sale in and around the town.
Acton students attend local K–8 school and Sanford High
Acton School Department oversees the town’s Acton School, where students in kindergarten through eighth grade attend elementary and middle school; the Acton School receives an overall B-plus rating from Niche. For grades nine through 12, students head to the C-plus-rated Sanford High School overseen by the Sanford School Department. Attached to the high school is the Sanford Regional Technical Center (SRTC), which offers career and technical education resources to secondary learners throughout the larger region. SRTC features more than 20 different programs that fall into four different industry categories: Arts & Communication, Business & Marketing, Health & Human Services and Science & Technology.
Lakes, trails and campgrounds offer year-round outdoor fun
“The outdoor enthusiast has much to do,” Baker says, listing “hiking, biking, any water activity such as water skiing, fishing, ice fishing and snowmobiling,” to name a few. “Acton has seven great bodies of water that offer season-long activities,” she says. Mousam Lake, Square Pond, Wilson Lake, Horn Pond, Great East Lake, Loon Pond and Lovell Lake make up the seven waterfront sites that the town has proximity to. The Three Rivers Land Trust oversees much of the major hiking areas in and around Acton, including Goat Hill and the Goat Hill Trail. In total, the land trust is in charge of approximately 2,000 acres of natural land between Acton and the neighboring town of Shapleigh. There are several campgrounds throughout the town, including Pine Ridge Campground just off H Road and the Apple Valley RV Campground near Mousam Lake. In the summertime, locals can pick the berries right off the vine at Blueberry Hill Farm.
Boutique shops and general stores offer basic conveniences
Despite its rural setting, Acton is still home to a handful of local dining spots and boutique retail stores. “We have a couple of restaurants with great food and entertainment,” Baker says, adding that there’s also a small market near town called Ira Miller’s General Store where residents can purchase basic groceries and household necessities. Willy’s Ale Room serves pizza, wings and draft beers in a rustic pub setting decorated with whiskey barrels and license plates nailed to the ceiling and walls. Down the road is Iron Tails Saloon, a biker-friendly bar and grill where patrons can enjoy live music. “The border town of Wakefield offers even more restaurants, food markets and a hardware store,” Baker says. “We also have Sanford a few minutes away with a Hannaford, Shaw, Walmart and Lowes.”
Celebrating the annual Acton Fair
Every summer, the community comes together to celebrate the Acton Fair. The annual carnival, known as the first “Worlds Fair” when it originally launched in 1868, takes place on the last weekend of August. Today, the event is a classic country fair with livestock, horse shows, musical performances and plenty of food. At the center of town is the Acton Public Library, which offers a weekly StoryHour every Wednesday morning during the school year and sees a host of writing workshops, seminars and literary programs.
![Jeff Tippett]()
Photography Contributed By
Jeff Tippett
