Compare towns

Brookfield vs Kittery 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 the oldest population (median age 58.1).
Kittery has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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.

MeasureBrookfieldKitteryWakefield
People
Population
567Lowest
10,473Highest
5,405
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
58.1±9.7Highest
49% above U.S.
46.8±2.3Lowest
20% 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%
14.7%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Wakefield and Kittery 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%
26.9%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
46%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
26.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookfield and Kittery 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
$93,728±$14k
16% above U.S.
$100,976±$11kHighest
25% above U.S.
Wakefield and Kittery 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.
$468,500±$31kHighest
41% above U.S.
$322,800±$43kLowest
about the U.S. average
Kittery and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,716±$224Highest
21% above U.S.
$1,375±$434Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kittery and Wakefield 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.
$4,518
45% above U.S.
$2,954Lowest
5% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent —
38.8%±14.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±82.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Kittery 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%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
98.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
3% above U.S.
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
36 minHighest
35% above U.S.
Work from home
13.7%±6.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±9.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Kittery 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 — #17 of 133 in ME #118 of 120 in NH
School district — Kittery Public Schools Wakefield School District
High school in town — Robert W Traip Academy None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.9
—
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.