What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dayton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).

Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($323k median).

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	Dayton	Wakefield
People
Population	2,313Lowest	5,405Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±5.5Lowest 8% above U.S.	49.4±4.1Highest 27% above U.S.
	Wakefield and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.4%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	18.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Dayton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wakefield and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dayton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,750±$24kHighest 41% above U.S.	$100,976±$11kLowest 25% above U.S.
	Dayton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$398,200±$34kHighest 20% above U.S.	$322,800±$43kLowest about the U.S. average
	Dayton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,215±$867Lowest 14% below U.S.	$1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average
	Wakefield and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,872Highest 24% above U.S.	$2,954Lowest 5% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dayton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%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	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.	36 minHighest 35% above U.S.
Work from home	16.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dayton 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	Dayton Public Schools	Wakefield School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.