Compare towns
Brookfield vs Exeter 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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Exeter | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Lowest |
16,151Highest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.1±9.7Highest 34% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above 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% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Wakefield and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.8% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±5 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter 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 |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$100,976±$11k about the NH average |
| Exeter 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 6% above NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH |
| Exeter and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,375±$434Lowest 8% below NH |
| Exeter 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 |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
7.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.7%±6.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.