Compare towns
Wakefield vs Wayne 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 kids (18.7% under 18).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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 | Wayne | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
1,101Lowest |
2,721 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1Lowest 27% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Acton 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% |
13.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Wayne 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% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and Acton 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% |
48.8%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% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne 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. |
$93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Wakefield and Wayne 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 |
$362,800±$29kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Wayne and Acton 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 |
$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
— |
| Wakefield and Wayne 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. |
$3,289Highest 5% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Wayne 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 35% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne 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 | RSU 38 | 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.