Compare towns
Acton vs Exeter vs Sumner 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%).
Exeter has the shortest commute (35 min average).
Sumner has the most affordable homes ($150k 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 | Exeter | Sumner | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,721 |
1,093 |
845Lowest |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
52.6±7.7 35% above U.S. |
56.1±8.4Highest 44% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Sumner and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4 U.S.: 22% |
9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Sumner 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% |
23.9%±11.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sumner and Acton 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% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15k about the U.S. average |
$84,408±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$57,750±$19kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$100,976±$11kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$166,700±$39k 50% below U.S. |
$150,000±$73kLowest 55% below U.S. |
$322,800±$43k about the U.S. average |
| Acton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $995±$386Lowest 30% below U.S. |
— | $1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average |
| Wakefield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680 14% below U.S. |
$1,602Lowest 49% below U.S. |
$2,167 31% below U.S. |
$2,954Highest 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 min 53% above U.S. |
35 minLowest 33% above U.S. |
42 minHighest 60% above U.S. |
36 min 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sumner 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 | — | — | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | — | RSU 10 | 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.