Compare towns
Acton vs Salem 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%).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
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 | Salem | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
30,964Highest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Lowest 15% 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% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Salem 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% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Wakefield 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% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem 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 |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11k 25% above U.S. |
| Salem 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 |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$322,800±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,375±$434Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Salem 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. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$2,954 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Salem 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% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest 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. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
36 min 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Salem 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Salem School District | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.