Compare towns
Loudon vs Salisbury vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Loudon has the highest household income ($107k).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Salisbury | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,692 |
9,281Highest |
5,405Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±3.2 27% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,966±$16kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$93,361±$6kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11k 25% above U.S. |
| 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 9% above U.S. |
$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$322,800±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$465Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,375±$434 about the U.S. average |
| Salisbury and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,821Highest 87% above U.S. |
$4,604 48% above U.S. |
$2,954Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±30.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Triton | Wakefield School District |
| 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.