Compare towns

Brookfield vs Plainfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Plainfield has the most renters (19.1% 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.

MeasureBrookfieldPlainfieldWakefield
People
Population
567Lowest
1,314
5,405Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
58.1±9.7Highest
49% above U.S.
48.1±5.5Lowest
24% 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%
16.3%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Wakefield and Plainfield 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%
21.1%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
26.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$81,406±$31k
about the U.S. average
$69,250±$31kLowest
14% below U.S.
$100,976±$11kHighest
25% above U.S.
Wakefield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$428,000±$61kHighest
29% above U.S.
$318,400±$34kLowest
4% below U.S.
$322,800±$43k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,153±$103Lowest
18% below U.S.
$1,375±$434Highest
about the U.S. average
Wakefield and Plainfield 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.
$4,806
54% above U.S.
$2,954Lowest
5% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent —
73.2%±53.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±82.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Plainfield 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%
11.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
98.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
3% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
36 minHighest
35% above U.S.
Work from home
13.7%±6.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±9.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield 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 — — #118 of 120 in NH
School district — — Wakefield School District
High school in town — — None in town
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.