Compare towns
Acton vs Brookline vs Windham 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 oldest population (median age 52.9).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Wakefield has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Brookline | Windham | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,721 |
531Lowest |
594 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% 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% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Wakefield 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% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Windham 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% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Brookline 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 |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Windham 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 |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$322,800±$43k about the U.S. average |
| Windham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
— | $1,375±$434Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Brookline 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. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$2,954 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Brookline 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% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 min 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Windham 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 | — | — | #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.