Compare towns
Brookfield vs Wolfeboro vs Wakefield vs Marlow
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%).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Wakefield has the youngest population (median age 49.4).
Marlow has the most kids (20.5% 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.
| Measure | Brookfield | Wolfeboro | Wakefield | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567Lowest |
6,571Highest |
5,405 |
855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+2.4% NH: +4.6% |
+0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.1±9.7Highest 34% above NH |
57±1.8 32% above NH |
49.4±4.1Lowest 14% above NH |
52.8±11.7 22% above NH |
| Brookfield and Wolfeboro 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% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Marlow 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% |
34.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.5%±5.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Brookfield and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.8% NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
33.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±5Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±2.2 NH: 6% |
| Brookfield and Marlow 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 |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$100,976±$11k about the NH average |
$110,455±$12kHighest 12% above NH |
| Marlow and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,000±$61k 6% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH |
$325,400±$49k 19% below NH |
| Wolfeboro and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,375±$434Highest 8% below NH |
$1,154±$160 23% below NH |
| Wakefield and Marlow 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 |
$4,531 32% below NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
$5,826 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 12%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
18.2%±95.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Marlow and Wolfeboro 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% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
7.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.8% NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.7%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH | #118 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Wakefield School District | Marlow School District |
| High school in town | — | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.