Compare towns

Brookfield vs Wakefield vs Washington

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).
Wakefield has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
Washington has the most renters (5.6% rent).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldWakefieldWashington
People
Population
567Lowest
5,405Highest
1,208
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
NH: +4.6%
+2.4%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+6.1%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
58.1±9.7Highest
34% above NH
49.4±4.1Lowest
14% above NH
55±4.7
27% 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%
18.7%±3.9Highest
NH: 18.2%
13.8%±4.9
NH: 18.2%
Wakefield and Washington 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%
18.8%±4.7Lowest
NH: 20.1%
29%±3
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.8%Highest
NH: 40.6%
26.2%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
32%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±5Highest
NH: 6%
1.4%±1.1Lowest
NH: 6%
4.6%±2.5
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
$100,976±$11kHighest
about the NH average
$89,453±$12k
10% below NH
Wakefield and Washington 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
$322,800±$43kLowest
20% below NH
$358,600±$32k
11% 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 —
$1,375±$434Highest
8% below NH
$1,106±$160Lowest
26% below NH
Wakefield and Washington 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
$2,954Lowest
56% below NH
$4,321
35% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent —
0%±82.9
NH: 48.2%
0%±88.9
NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line
3.9%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
7.2%
NH: 7.2%
8.7%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
98.4%Highest
NH: 72.8%
96.8%
NH: 72.8%
94.4%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
4 yrs older than NH
1980
1 yr newer than NH
1983Highest
4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the NH average
36 minHighest
34% above NH
36 min
33% above NH
Work from home
13.7%±6.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
15.1%±9.3Highest
NH: 16.8%
14.9%±5.3
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 — Wakefield School District Washington 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.