Compare towns
Brookfield vs Keene 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
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 | Keene | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Lowest |
22,939Highest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.1±9.7Highest 34% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% 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% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Wakefield and Keene 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% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.8% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±5 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,406±$31k 18% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% 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 | $428,000±$61kHighest 6% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$322,800±$43k 20% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,375±$434Highest 8% below NH |
| Wakefield and Keene 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 |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Keene 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% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.7%±6.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Keene 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Keene School District | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | — | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.