What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cushing has the shortest commute (23 min average).

Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Cushing	Wakefield
People
Population	1,460Lowest	5,405Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.8±7.7Lowest 25% above U.S.	49.4±4.1Highest 27% above U.S.
	Wakefield and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Wakefield and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.5%±0.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Cushing and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Cushing and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,500±$19kLowest 3% above U.S.	$100,976±$11kHighest 25% above U.S.
	Wakefield and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$409,800±$44kHighest 23% above U.S.	$322,800±$43kLowest about the U.S. average
	Cushing and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,553±$376Highest 10% above U.S.	$1,375±$434Lowest about the U.S. average
	Cushing and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,944Highest 26% above U.S.	$2,954Lowest 5% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.7%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Cushing and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 11% below U.S.	36 minHighest 35% above U.S.
Work from home	18.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Cushing 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	RSU 13	Wakefield School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.