Compare towns
Brookfield vs Middleton vs Washington 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Middleton has the youngest population (median age 43.5).
Washington has the most renters (5.6% rent).
Wakefield has the most people working from home (15.1%).
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 | Middleton | Washington | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567Lowest |
1,595 |
1,208 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.1±9.7Highest 34% above NH |
43.5±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
55±4.7 27% above NH |
49.4±4.1 14% above NH |
| Brookfield and Washington 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% |
18.9%±4.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.8%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Middleton and Wakefield 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% |
18.9%±2 NH: 20.1% |
29%±3 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32% NH: 40.6% |
26.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±5Highest NH: 6% |
3.2%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.6%±2.5 NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Brookfield and Washington 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 |
$101,696±$8kHighest about the NH average |
$89,453±$12k 10% below NH |
$100,976±$11k about the NH average |
| Middleton 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±$61kHighest 6% above NH |
$312,300±$27kLowest 22% below NH |
$358,600±$32k 11% below NH |
$322,800±$43k 20% below NH |
| Brookfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,500±$293Highest about the NH average |
$1,106±$160Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,375±$434 8% below NH |
| Middleton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,926Highest 11% below NH |
$5,504 17% below NH |
$4,321 35% below NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 83.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±88.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Middleton and Washington 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% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
8.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
96.5% NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
39 minHighest 45% above NH |
36 min 33% above NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.7%±6.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wakefield and Washington 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 | — | Middleton School District | Washington School District | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.