Compare towns
Acton vs Kennebunk 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%).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Wakefield has the youngest population (median age 49.4).
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 | Kennebunk | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
11,820Highest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Acton 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% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Kennebunk 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% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kennebunk 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Kennebunk 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 |
$107,804±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11k 25% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk 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 |
$487,700±$21kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$322,800±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,425±$290Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,375±$434Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kennebunk 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. |
$4,999Highest 60% above U.S. |
$2,954 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Kennebunk 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% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 min 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk 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 | #9 of 133 in ME | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | RSU 21 | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.