Compare towns

Brookfield vs Ossipee 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%).
Ossipee has the most renters (18% rent).
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.

MeasureBrookfieldOssipeeWakefield
People
Population
567Lowest
4,521
5,405Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+0.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+2.4%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
58.1±9.7Highest
34% above NH
50±4.6
15% above NH
49.4±4.1Lowest
14% above NH
Brookfield and Ossipee 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%
19.5%±4.5Highest
NH: 18.2%
18.7%±3.9
NH: 18.2%
Ossipee 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%
26.3%±5.9
NH: 20.1%
18.8%±4.7Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.8%Highest
NH: 40.6%
24.8%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
26.2%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±5Highest
NH: 6%
2.9%±1.7
NH: 6%
1.4%±1.1Lowest
NH: 6%
Brookfield and Ossipee 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
$90,521±$22k
9% below NH
$100,976±$11kHighest
about the NH average
Wakefield and Ossipee 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
$325,500±$23k
19% below NH
$322,800±$43kLowest
20% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,601±$245Highest
7% above NH
$1,375±$434Lowest
8% below NH
Ossipee 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
$4,401
34% below NH
$2,954Lowest
56% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent —
72%±16.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
0%±82.9Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Ossipee 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%
8.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
7.2%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
98.4%Highest
NH: 72.8%
82%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
96.8%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
4 yrs older than NH
1979
same as NH
1980Highest
1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the NH average
33 min
25% above NH
36 minHighest
34% above NH
Work from home
13.7%±6.8
NH: 16.8%
5.3%±3.7Lowest
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 — #100 of 120 in NH #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.