Compare towns
Middleton vs Webster 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
Middleton has the most affordable homes ($312k median).
Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Wakefield has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
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 | Middleton | Webster | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,595Lowest |
2,227 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.5±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
44.7±7.6 3% above NH |
49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH |
| Wakefield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.2 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±8Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Webster and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±2 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Webster and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Middleton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$8k about the NH average |
$107,171±$14kHighest 8% above NH |
$100,976±$11kLowest about the NH average |
| Webster and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,300±$27kLowest 22% below NH |
$338,500±$30kHighest 16% below NH |
$322,800±$43k 20% below NH |
| Webster and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$293Highest about the NH average |
$1,396±$622 6% below NH |
$1,375±$434Lowest 8% below NH |
| Middleton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,504 17% below NH |
$6,021Highest 10% below NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71 NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Middleton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5% NH: 72.8% |
96%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 45% above NH |
31 minLowest 14% above NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.1%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Webster 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 | — | — | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Middleton School District | Merrimack Valley School District | Wakefield 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.