Compare towns
Acton vs Brookfield vs Hooksett 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 the most people working from home (18.2%).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 58.1).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
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 | Brookfield | Hooksett | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,721 |
567Lowest |
15,057Highest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
58.1±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4 U.S.: 22% |
8.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Hooksett 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% |
38.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±5 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Brookfield 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±$31k about the U.S. average |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11k 25% above U.S. |
| Hooksett 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 |
$428,000±$61kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$322,800±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Brookfield and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,375±$434Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Wakefield 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. |
$5,926 90% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$2,954 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Hooksett 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% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 min 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Wakefield 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | — | Hooksett School District | Wakefield School District |
| High school 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.