Compare towns
Loudon vs Wakefield vs Gilmanton
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 people working from home (15.1%).
Gilmanton has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Gilmanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,692Highest |
5,405 |
4,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±3.2Highest 14% above NH |
49.4±4.1 14% above NH |
45±4.4Lowest 4% 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% |
17.5%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Wakefield and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Gilmanton and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,966±$16k 8% above NH |
$100,976±$11kLowest about the NH average |
$117,088±$9kHighest 18% above NH |
| Gilmanton 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 |
$363,700±$42kHighest 10% below NH |
| Gilmanton and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$465 11% below NH |
$1,375±$434Highest 8% below NH |
$1,125±$421Lowest 25% below NH |
| Wakefield and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,821 13% below NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
$6,235Highest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±30.4 NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.1%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilmanton and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
7.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.8% NH: 72.8% |
99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 14% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 8.9%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wakefield and Loudon 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 | #25 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Wakefield School District | Gilmanton 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.