Compare towns
Wakefield vs Newfields 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).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Newfields | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
2,023Lowest |
2,721 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% 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% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest 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% |
68.1%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% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,800±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
— |
| Newfields 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Newfields 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1% 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. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | — | #43 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Newfields School District | Acton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None 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.