What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danville has the most expensive homes ($438k median).

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	Danville	Wakefield
People
Population	4,531Lowest	5,405Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+2.4%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42±4Lowest 3% below NH	49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH
	Wakefield and Danville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±7Highest NH: 18.2%	18.7%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Danville and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.1%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	18.8%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1%
	Wakefield and Danville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.6%Highest NH: 40.6%	26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.3 NH: 6%	1.4%±1.1 NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$115,104±$21kHighest 16% above NH	$100,976±$11kLowest about the NH average
	Danville and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$437,600±$26kHighest 9% above NH	$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,144±$867Highest 44% above NH	$1,375±$434Lowest 8% below NH
	Danville and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,504Highest 28% above NH	$2,954Lowest 56% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	70.2%±61.6Highest NH: 48.2%	0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Danville and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Highest NH: 7.2%	7.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97.4%Highest NH: 72.8%	96.8%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH	1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 30% above NH	36 minHighest 34% above NH
Work from home	13.1%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8%	15.1%±9.3Highest NH: 16.8%
	Wakefield and Danville 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	#40 of 120 in NH	#118 of 120 in NH
School district	Timberlane Regional School District	Wakefield School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.