Compare towns
Alstead vs Brookfield vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alstead has the most renters (24% rent).
Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Wakefield has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
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 | Alstead | Brookfield | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
567Lowest |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 29% above NH |
58.1±9.7Highest 34% above NH |
49.4±4.1Lowest 14% above NH |
| Brookfield and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
8.6%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Wakefield and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
38.4%±3.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3% NH: 40.6% |
36.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.5%±5Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Brookfield and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$81,406±$31k 18% below NH |
$100,976±$11kHighest about the NH average |
| Wakefield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
$428,000±$61kHighest 6% above NH |
$322,800±$43k 20% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,375±$434 8% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 20% below NH |
$5,926Highest 11% below NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
— | 0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
98.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
96.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.7%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wakefield and Brookfield 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 |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | — | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.