Compare towns
Acton vs Eliot 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
Acton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
Eliot has the most renters (20.2% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Eliot | Ogunquit | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,721 |
7,146Highest |
1,379Lowest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% 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. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Eliot 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% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Eliot 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% |
43.6% 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% |
2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11k 25% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Eliot 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 |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$322,800±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
— | $1,375±$434Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Eliot 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. |
$4,549Highest 46% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$2,954 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Eliot 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% |
4.8% 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% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr 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. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
36 min 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #43 of 133 in ME | #19 of 133 in ME | — | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | 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.