Compare towns
Acton vs Appleton vs Minot vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Minot has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Wakefield has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
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 | Acton | Appleton | Minot | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,721 |
1,360Lowest |
2,794 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
49±6.1Lowest 26% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
| Acton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Minot and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15k about the U.S. average |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$95,655±$17k 18% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$294,900±$26k 11% below U.S. |
$322,800±$43k about the U.S. average |
| Acton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$878±$801Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average |
| Wakefield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680 14% below U.S. |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$2,602Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$2,954 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
35.7%±40.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
36 min 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.8%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Minot 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 | — | #78 of 133 in ME | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 16 | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.