Compare towns
Jefferson vs Wakefield vs Whitefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most kids (28% under 18).
Wakefield has the highest household income ($101k).
Whitefield has the most affordable homes ($242k 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.
| Measure | Jefferson | Wakefield | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,647 |
5,405Highest |
2,157Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.1±4.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
51.9±5.2Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Whitefield and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±4.7Lowest 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%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.7%Highest 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% |
4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Jefferson and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,078±$17k 5% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$73,875±$10kLowest 8% below 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±$35k 6% below U.S. |
$322,800±$43kHighest about the U.S. average |
$242,300±$24kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| 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±$130 21% below U.S. |
$1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average |
$895±$126Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Wakefield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,587 17% below U.S. |
$2,954Highest 5% below U.S. |
$2,366Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±22.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitefield and Jefferson 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% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield and Whitefield 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 | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.