Compare towns
Wakefield vs Worcester vs Ripton 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).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Acton has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
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 | Worcester | Ripton | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
831 |
508Lowest |
2,721 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% 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% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Acton 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% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton 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% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,976±$11k 25% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Ripton 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 |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Ripton 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 |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— | — |
| Wakefield and Worcester 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. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Ripton 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 35% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Acton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.