Compare towns
Wakefield vs Acton vs Barnstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Barnstead has the youngest population (median age 42.8).
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 | Wakefield | Acton | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
2,721Lowest |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1Lowest 10% 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 | 18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,976±$11k 25% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Barnstead and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,800±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
$334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
$362,400±$25kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Barnstead and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
| Barnstead and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,954 5% below U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 35% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5Lowest 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 | #118 of 120 in NH | #43 of 133 in ME | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Acton Public Schools | Barnstead School District |
| 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 |
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.