Compare towns
Brookfield vs Wolfeboro 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 oldest population (median age 58.1).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Wakefield has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567Lowest |
6,571Highest |
5,405 |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4% NH: +4.6% |
+6.1%Highest 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 |
55±4.7 27% 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%±3.9Highest 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% |
34.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
29%±3 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% |
32% 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% |
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 |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$100,976±$11kHighest about the NH average |
$89,453±$12k 10% below NH |
| Wakefield and Wolfeboro 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 |
$358,600±$32k 11% 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 |
$1,106±$160 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 |
$4,531 32% below NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
$4,321 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 12%±11.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
0%±88.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Wolfeboro 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% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
7.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.7%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% |
94.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 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 |
36 min 33% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.7%±6.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±5.3 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 | Washington 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.