Compare towns
Wakefield vs Holbrook 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 shortest commute (36 min average).
Holbrook has the most expensive homes ($465k 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 | Holbrook | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405 |
11,380Highest |
2,721Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
42.8±3.2Lowest 10% 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% |
21.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Holbrook 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% |
19.1%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Holbrook 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% |
34.6%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% |
5.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Holbrook 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. |
$115,210±$14kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Holbrook 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 |
$465,400±$21kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,094±$423Lowest 23% below U.S. |
— |
| Wakefield and Holbrook 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. |
$6,105Highest 96% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Holbrook 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minLowest 35% above U.S. |
38 min 44% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.3Lowest 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 | #234 of 282 in MA | #43 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Holbrook | Acton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Holbrook Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.