Compare towns
Acton vs Wakefield vs Ware
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%).
Wakefield has the highest household income ($101k).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
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 | Wakefield | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
5,405 |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% 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% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Wakefield 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% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Ware 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% |
26.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware 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±$15k about the U.S. average |
$100,976±$11kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below 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 |
$322,800±$43k about the U.S. average |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Acton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Wakefield and Ware 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. |
$2,954 5% below U.S. |
$4,237Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Ware 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% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
36 min 35% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest 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 | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Wakefield School District | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.