Compare towns
Wakefield vs Acton 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
Wakefield has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
Acton has the most people working from home (18.2%).
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 | Wakefield | Acton | Newfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
2,721 |
1,580Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1Lowest 27% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% 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 | 18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Acton 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%±4.9 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+ | 26.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,976±$11kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15k about the U.S. average |
$57,188±$20kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Wakefield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,800±$43k about the U.S. average |
$334,300±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$318,100±$27kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Acton and Wakefield 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 | $2,954Highest 5% below U.S. |
$2,680 14% below U.S. |
$2,402Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±100 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 | 7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minLowest 35% above U.S. |
40 min 53% above U.S. |
49 minHighest 85% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Highest 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 | #118 of 120 in NH | #43 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Acton Public Schools | 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 |
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.