Compare towns
Wakefield vs Putney 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).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Putney | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
2,622Lowest |
2,721 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below 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% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Putney 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest 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% |
48.6%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% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,976±$11kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Wakefield and Putney 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 |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
— |
| Wakefield and Putney 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. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Putney 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 35% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #43 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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.