Compare towns
Acton vs Calais vs Middlesex 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%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
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 | Calais | Middlesex | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,721 |
1,713Lowest |
1,943 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 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% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Middlesex 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% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Calais 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% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Middlesex 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 |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11k 25% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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 |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$322,800±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,375±$434 about the U.S. average |
| Calais 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. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$2,954 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Calais 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% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
36 min 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.