Compare towns
Brookfield vs Exeter 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%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
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 | Brookfield | Exeter | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Lowest |
1,093 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.1±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
52.6±7.7 35% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Exeter 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% |
9%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 38.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±11.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Exeter 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 |
$84,408±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,000±$61kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$166,700±$39kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$322,800±$43k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $995±$386Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average |
| Wakefield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,926Highest 90% above U.S. |
$1,602Lowest 49% below U.S. |
$2,954 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 33.3%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | — | Wakefield School District |
| High school 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.