Compare towns
Brookfield vs Monroe 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 most expensive homes ($428k median).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Wakefield has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Monroe | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Lowest |
786 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.1±9.7Highest 34% above NH |
51±10.4 18% above NH |
49.4±4.1Lowest 14% above NH |
| Brookfield and Monroe 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% |
20.9%±7.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Monroe 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% |
30.3%±8.9 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Brookfield and Monroe 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 NH: 40.6% |
25.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
26.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±5Highest NH: 6% |
1.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Brookfield and Wakefield 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 |
$88,150±$7k 11% below NH |
$100,976±$11kHighest about the NH average |
| Wakefield and Monroe 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 |
$312,700±$58kLowest 22% below NH |
$322,800±$43k 20% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$218Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,375±$434Highest 8% below NH |
| Wakefield and Monroe 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 |
$2,661Lowest 60% below NH |
$2,954 56% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 48%±39Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Monroe 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% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
7.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.7%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
3.2%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | — | Monroe School District | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.