Compare towns
Loudon vs Hampton Beach vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Loudon has the highest household income ($107k).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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.
| Measure | Loudon | Hampton Beach | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,692Highest |
2,605Lowest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±3.2 14% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
49.4±4.1Lowest 14% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±4.2 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Wakefield and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.3% NH: 40.6% |
34%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,966±$16kHighest 8% above NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$100,976±$11k about the NH average |
| Loudon and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,400±$48k 10% below NH |
$508,900±$76kHighest 26% above NH |
$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$465Lowest 11% below NH |
$1,375±$130Highest 8% below NH |
$1,375±$434Highest 8% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,821 13% below NH |
$6,115Highest 8% below NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±30.4 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.6% NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 8.9%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach 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 | #99 of 120 in NH | — | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack Valley 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 | 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.