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 the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Wakefield has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 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 | 2,721 |
5,405Highest |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% 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%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Windham 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% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Wakefield 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±$11kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Windham 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 |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% 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±$434 about the U.S. average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$2,954 5% below U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
36 min 35% above U.S. |
27 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% |
20.5%±5.6Highest 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 | — |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Wakefield School District | — |
| High school 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.