What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jefferson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).

Wakefield has the most people working from home (15.1%).

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	Jefferson	Wakefield
People
Population	2,647Lowest	5,405Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.1±4.9Lowest about the U.S. average	49.4±4.1Highest 27% above U.S.
Kids under 18	28%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%	18.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Jefferson and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wakefield and Jefferson 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	4.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Jefferson and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,078±$17kLowest 5% above U.S.	$100,976±$11kHighest 25% above U.S.
	Wakefield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$311,600±$35kLowest 6% below U.S.	$322,800±$43kHighest about the U.S. average
	Wakefield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,120±$130Lowest 21% below U.S.	$1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average
	Wakefield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,587Lowest 17% below U.S.	$2,954Highest 5% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.8%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jefferson and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 14% above U.S.	36 minHighest 35% above U.S.
Work from home	8.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wakefield and Jefferson 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	#45 of 133 in ME	#118 of 120 in NH
School district	Jefferson Public Schools	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.