Compare towns
Acton vs Berwick vs Ogunquit 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
Berwick has the most renters (27% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Wakefield has the most homeowners (96.8%).
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 | Berwick | Ogunquit | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,721 |
1,998 |
1,379Lowest |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
42.6±3.6Lowest 10% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±12.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$81,406±$39k about the U.S. average |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11k 25% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
$323,300±$36k about the U.S. average |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$322,800±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,041±$901Lowest 26% below U.S. |
— | $1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average |
| Wakefield and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$3,806 22% above U.S. |
$4,473Highest 43% above U.S. |
$2,954 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.9%±45.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 min 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #43 of 133 in ME | #101 of 133 in ME | — | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | — | — | Wakefield School District |
| High school 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.