Compare towns
Wakefield vs Alton vs Acton
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).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Acton has the most people working from home (18.2%).
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 | Alton | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405 |
5,994Highest |
2,721Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1Lowest 27% above U.S. |
53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
| Alton and Acton 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% |
13.4%±4 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Alton 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% |
25.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Alton 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% |
35.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3Highest 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 | $100,976±$11k 25% above U.S. |
$113,715±$19kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Alton 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 |
$430,400±$37kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434 about the U.S. average |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,954 5% below U.S. |
$4,183Highest 34% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.7%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Alton 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% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 35% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Highest 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 | #72 of 120 in NH | #43 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Acton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Prospect Mountain High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.