What stands out worked out from the figures below

Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).

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	Deerfield	Wakefield
People
Population	4,932Lowest	5,405Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.8±4.2Lowest about the NH average	49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH
	Wakefield and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2%	18.7%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Deerfield and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.5%±3.5Lowest NH: 20.1%	18.8%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1%
	Wakefield and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.3%Highest NH: 40.6%	26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.8Highest NH: 6%	1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Deerfield and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$131,563±$10kHighest 33% above NH	$100,976±$11kLowest about the NH average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$421,000±$33kHighest 5% above NH	$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,593±$318Highest 7% above NH	$1,375±$434Lowest 8% below NH
	Deerfield and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,369Highest 11% above NH	$2,954Lowest 56% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	17.4%±17.6Highest NH: 48.2%	0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Deerfield and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%	7.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	96.8%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH	1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 28% above NH	36 minHighest 34% above NH
Work from home	22.4%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8%	15.1%±9.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Deerfield 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	#61 of 120 in NH	#118 of 120 in NH
School district	Deerfield 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.