Compare towns
Brookfield vs Dover 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
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 58.1).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Dover | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Lowest |
33,364Highest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.1±9.7Highest 34% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
49.4±4.1 14% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Wakefield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38.4%±3.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.8% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±5 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Brookfield 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 18% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$100,976±$11kHighest about the NH average |
| Wakefield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,000±$61k 6% above NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH |
| Dover and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,375±$434Lowest 8% below NH |
| Dover and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,926 11% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover 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 NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.7%±6.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Dover 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Dover School District | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | — | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.