Compare towns
Wakefield vs Bartlett 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).
Bartlett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Acton has the most people working from home (18.2%).
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 | Bartlett | Acton | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
3,281 |
2,721Lowest |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
57.4±4.7Highest 48% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Bartlett and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
7.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4 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% |
36.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bartlett 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.1%±0.4Lowest 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. |
$59,754±$9kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$78,750±$15k 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 |
$371,400±$78kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
$362,400±$25k 9% above U.S. |
| Bartlett and Barnstead 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 |
$1,676±$97Highest 19% above U.S. |
— | $1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,954 5% below U.S. |
$2,512Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,680 14% below U.S. |
$6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.5%±37.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Bartlett 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% |
10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than 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. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±7.1 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 | #74 of 120 in NH | #43 of 133 in ME | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Bartlett School District | Acton Public Schools | Barnstead 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.