Compare towns
Acton vs Mapleton vs Wakefield vs Shapleigh
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 most people working from home (18.2%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Wakefield has the highest household income ($101k).
Shapleigh has the most expensive homes ($356k 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 | Mapleton | Wakefield | Shapleigh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,721 |
1,884Lowest |
5,405Highest |
2,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
46.9±10 21% 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Shapleigh 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.1%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Shapleigh 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% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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 |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$88,140±$9k 9% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Mapleton 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$322,800±$43k about the U.S. average |
$356,000±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Shapleigh and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,349±$133 5% below U.S. |
| Wakefield and Shapleigh 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$2,954Highest 5% below U.S. |
$2,603 17% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.3%±61.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Shapleigh 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
36 min 35% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±6.5 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 | — | #118 of 120 in NH | #76 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Wakefield School District | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None 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.