Compare towns

Brookfield vs New Durham 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%).
New Durham has the youngest population (median age 46.5).
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.

MeasureBrookfieldNew DurhamWakefield
People
Population
567Lowest
2,748
5,405Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+2.1%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+2.4%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
58.1±9.7Highest
34% above NH
46.5±7.5Lowest
7% 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%
14.8%±5.6
NH: 18.2%
18.7%±3.9Highest
NH: 18.2%
Wakefield and New Durham 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%
23.8%±4
NH: 20.1%
18.8%±4.7Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.8%Highest
NH: 40.6%
34.7%
NH: 40.6%
26.2%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±5Highest
NH: 6%
1%±0.7Lowest
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
$100,194±$13k
about the NH average
$100,976±$11kHighest
about the NH average
Wakefield and New Durham 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
$339,400±$27k
16% below NH
$322,800±$43kLowest
20% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,417±$116Highest
5% below NH
$1,375±$434Lowest
8% below NH
New Durham 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
$5,774
13% below NH
$2,954Lowest
56% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent —
25%±42.7Highest
NH: 48.2%
0%±82.9Lowest
NH: 48.2%
New Durham 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%
5.8%
NH: 7.2%
7.2%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
98.4%Highest
NH: 72.8%
94%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
96.8%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
4 yrs older 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
35 min
30% above NH
36 minHighest
34% above NH
Work from home
13.7%±6.8
NH: 16.8%
10%±4.1Lowest
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 — Governor Wentworth Regional 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.