Compare towns
Loudon vs Wakefield vs Canterbury
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
Canterbury has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Wakefield | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,692Highest |
5,405 |
2,353Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±3.2Highest 14% above NH |
49.4±4.1 14% above NH |
48.6±3.8Lowest 12% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Wakefield and Canterbury 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% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Canterbury 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% NH: 40.6% |
26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,966±$16k 8% above NH |
$100,976±$11kLowest about the NH average |
$129,333±$37kHighest 31% above NH |
| Canterbury 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 10% below NH |
$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH |
$443,700±$21kHighest 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$465Lowest 11% below NH |
$1,375±$434 8% below NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,821 13% below NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
$7,421Highest 11% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±30.4 NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury 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% |
7.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 14% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 8.9%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Canterbury 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 | Shaker Regional School District |
| High school in town | None 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.