Compare towns
Acton vs Wakefield vs Windham
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 most affordable homes ($323k median).
Windham has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
5,405 |
19,188Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% 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% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest 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% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Highest 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% |
3.9%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham 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 |
$100,976±$11k 25% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Windham 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 |
$322,800±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
$388,900±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Windham and Acton 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 |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Wakefield and Windham 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. |
$3,938Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Windham 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
36 min 35% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #118 of 120 in NH | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Wakefield School District | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
| 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.