Compare towns
Loudon vs Wolfeboro 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,692 |
6,571Highest |
5,405Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±3.2 14% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
49.4±4.1Lowest 14% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±4.2 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.3% NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Wolfeboro 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±$16kHighest 8% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% 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 |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$465 11% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,375±$434Highest 8% 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 | $5,821Highest 13% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±30.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Loudon and Wolfeboro 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% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 8.9%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
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| 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.