Compare towns
Newfield vs Mapleton vs Acton 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
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (18.2%).
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 | Newfield | Mapleton | Acton | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,580Lowest |
1,884 |
2,721 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.8±8.1 36% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1 27% 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 | 12.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7 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+ | 21.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $57,188±$20kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15k about the U.S. average |
$100,976±$11kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,100±$27k 4% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$334,300±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$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 | — | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
— | $1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,402 23% below U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$2,680 14% below U.S. |
$2,954Highest 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 49 minHighest 85% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
40 min 53% above U.S. |
36 min 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Highest 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 | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Acton Public Schools | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.