What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).

Wakefield has the most kids (18.7% under 18).

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	Jackson	Wakefield
People
Population	897Lowest	5,405Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+26%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH	49.4±4.1Lowest 14% above NH
Kids under 18	4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	18.7%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	28.4%±6.4Highest NH: 20.1%	18.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Jackson and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	67.7%Highest NH: 40.6%	26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±3.4Highest NH: 6%	1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Jackson and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,986±$46kHighest 19% above NH	$100,976±$11kLowest about the NH average
	Jackson and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH	$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH	$1,375±$434Lowest 8% below NH
	Jackson and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,001Highest 10% below NH	$2,954Lowest 56% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.1%±59.9Highest NH: 48.2%	0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Jackson and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.9%Highest NH: 7.2%	7.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%	96.8%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980 1 yr newer than NH	1980 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 31% below NH	36 minHighest 34% above NH
Work from home	22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8%	15.1%±9.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Jackson 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	Jackson 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.