Compare towns
Wakefield vs Fair Haven 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 highest household income ($101k).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Fair Haven | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
2,724 |
2,721Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Fair Haven 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% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fair Haven 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. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$78,750±$15k about the U.S. average |
| 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 |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
$334,300±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
| 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 |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
— |
| Wakefield and Fair Haven 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. |
$3,865Highest 24% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Fair Haven 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% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 35% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest 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 | #66 of 70 in VT | #43 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Acton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.