Compare towns
Acton vs Windsor vs Wakefield vs Newfield
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 most people working from home (18.2%).
Windsor has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Wakefield has the most homeowners (96.8%).
Newfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
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 | Windsor | Wakefield | Newfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,721 |
254Lowest |
5,405Highest |
1,580 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
40.2±18.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
52.8±8.1 36% above U.S. |
| Acton and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4 U.S.: 22% |
25.2%±14.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor 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% |
15.7%±8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
12.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor 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 |
$103,750±$40kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11k 25% above U.S. |
$57,188±$20kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Windsor 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 |
$337,500±$40kHighest about the U.S. average |
$322,800±$43k about the U.S. average |
$318,100±$27kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Windsor 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 | $2,680 14% below U.S. |
$3,381Highest 8% above U.S. |
$2,954 5% below U.S. |
$2,402Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Windsor 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% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 min 53% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
36 min 35% above U.S. |
49 minHighest 85% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±16.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±3.3Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | — | Wakefield School District | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.