Compare towns
Acton vs Epping 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).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
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 | Epping | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
7,430Highest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% 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% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Epping 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% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping 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 |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11k 25% above U.S. |
| Epping 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 |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$322,800±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,375±$434Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Epping 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$2,954 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Epping 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
36 min 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Acton 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Epping School District | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.