Compare towns
Wakefield vs Chester 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).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
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 | Chester | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
5,300 |
2,721Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
47.2±3.8Lowest 21% 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% |
19.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Chester 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% |
17.4%±4Lowest 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% |
41.1%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% |
4.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester 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. |
$142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,800±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
$552,300±$42kHighest 66% 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. |
$8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Chester 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 35% above U.S. |
35 minLowest 33% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Chester 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | #43 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Chester School District | Acton Public Schools |
| 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.