Compare towns
Wakefield vs Bow 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 affordable homes ($323k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Acton has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
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 | Bow | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405 |
8,335Highest |
2,721Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% 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% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow 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% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Wakefield 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% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow 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. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,800±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
— |
| Bow 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. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Bow 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 35% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Acton 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #43 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Bow School District | Acton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.