Compare towns
Wakefield vs Appleton vs Acton vs Effingham
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 highest household income ($101k).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
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 | Appleton | Acton | Effingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
1,360Lowest |
2,721 |
1,912 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
46.9±12.4Lowest 21% 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% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Effingham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Appleton 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% |
34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton 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±$11kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$78,750±$15k about the U.S. average |
$76,607±$14k 5% 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 |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$334,300±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$322,700±$30k 3% 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±$434Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,090±$121Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Wakefield and Appleton 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. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.6%±40.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Appleton 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% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 35% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Effingham 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 | Appleton Public Schools | Acton Public Schools | Governor Wentworth Regional 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.