Compare towns
Wakefield vs Limerick 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).
Limerick has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
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 | Limerick | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
3,400 |
2,721Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
40.4±9.2Lowest 4% 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%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±3.6Lowest 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% |
27.5%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% |
2.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Limerick 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. |
$101,172±$15kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Limerick 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±$43k about the U.S. average |
$269,400±$29kLowest 19% 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±$434Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,758±$407Highest 24% above U.S. |
— |
| Limerick and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,954Highest 5% below U.S. |
$2,520Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,680 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Limerick 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% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minLowest 35% above U.S. |
38 min 42% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.2%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Limerick 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 | — | #43 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wakefield School District | — | Acton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.