Compare towns
Loudon vs Townsend 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
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.
| Measure | Loudon | Townsend | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,692 |
9,100Highest |
5,405Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±3.2Highest 27% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
| Loudon and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Loudon and Wakefield 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% |
35.5%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% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,966±$16k 32% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Loudon 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. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$322,800±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Townsend and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$465Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,375±$434 about the U.S. average |
| Townsend and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,821 87% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$2,954Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±30.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
36 min 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield and Townsend 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | North Middlesex | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
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| 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.