What stands out worked out from the figures below

Manchester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).

Wakefield has the most homeowners (96.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Manchester	Wakefield
People
Population	115,643Highest	5,405Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.5%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	38±1Lowest 12% below NH	49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH
Kids under 18	18%±1Lowest NH: 18.2%	18.7%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2%
	Wakefield and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	18.8%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1%
	Wakefield and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34%Highest NH: 40.6%	26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.4%±0.7Highest NH: 6%	1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH	$100,976±$11kHighest about the NH average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$365,600±$7kHighest 9% below NH	$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH
	Manchester and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,564±$37Highest 5% above NH	$1,375±$434Lowest 8% below NH
	Manchester and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,922Highest 11% below NH	$2,954Lowest 56% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50%±3.6Highest NH: 48.2%	0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Manchester and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.2%Highest NH: 7.2%	7.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	96.8%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 10% below NH	36 minHighest 34% above NH
Work from home	14.1%±1.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	15.1%±9.3Highest NH: 16.8%
	Wakefield and Manchester 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	#115 of 120 in NH	#118 of 120 in NH
School district	Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District	Wakefield School District
High school in town	Manchester Memorial High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	6 photos →	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.