Compare towns
Acton vs Thomaston 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%).
Thomaston has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Thomaston | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
2,769 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
58.1±6.6Highest 49% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Thomaston 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% |
19.2%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Thomaston and Wakefield 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% |
35.5%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thomaston 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% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Thomaston 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 |
$56,435±$13kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$100,976±$11kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Acton 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 |
$271,700±$10kLowest 18% 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 | — | $1,262±$343Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average |
| Wakefield and Thomaston 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. |
$4,487Highest 44% above U.S. |
$2,954 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.5%±23.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Thomaston 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% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 48% below U.S. |
36 min 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3 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 | #99 of 133 in ME | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | RSU 13 | 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 |
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.