Compare towns
Brookfield vs Dorset vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
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 | Brookfield | Dorset | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Lowest |
2,092 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.1±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Lowest 18% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,406±$31kLowest about the U.S. average |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11k 25% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,000±$61k 29% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$322,800±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,375±$434Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Dorset and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,926 90% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$2,954Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Wakefield 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 | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | 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 |
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.