Compare towns
Acton vs Dudley vs Ware 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%).
Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Dudley | Ware | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
11,929Highest |
10,048 |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% 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% |
20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Dudley and Ware 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% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15k about the U.S. average |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$100,976±$11kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Dudley 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 |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$322,800±$43k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average |
| Wakefield and Dudley 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. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
$4,237Highest 36% above U.S. |
$2,954 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Ware 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% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
36 min 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Ware | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.