What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jefferson has the oldest population (median age 58).

Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

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	1,013Lowest	5,405Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+2.4%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	58±3.5Highest 34% above NH	49.4±4.1Lowest 14% above NH
Kids under 18	12.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	18.7%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2%
	Wakefield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.7%±9.1Highest NH: 20.1%	18.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.4%Highest NH: 40.6%	26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.5Highest NH: 6%	1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
	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	$67,188±$13kLowest 32% below NH	$100,976±$11kHighest about the NH average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$296,700±$92kLowest 26% below NH	$322,800±$43kHighest 20% below NH
	Wakefield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$867±$156Lowest 42% below NH	$1,375±$434Highest 8% below NH
	Wakefield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,196Highest 37% below NH	$2,954Lowest 56% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±71.2Highest NH: 48.2%	0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Jefferson and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Highest NH: 7.2%	7.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%	96.8%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH	1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 29% above NH	36 minHighest 34% above NH
Work from home	17.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8%	15.1%±9.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Jefferson 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	—	Wakefield School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.