Compare towns
Milton vs Wakefield vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milton has the youngest population (median age 45.7).
Wakefield has the most homeowners (96.8%).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
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 | Milton | Wakefield | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,538Lowest |
5,405 |
6,571Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±2.4Lowest 6% above NH |
49.4±4.1 14% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±5 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Wakefield and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
26.2% NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Wolfeboro and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,493±$27k 5% below NH |
$100,976±$11kHighest about the NH average |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
| Wakefield and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34kLowest 21% below NH |
$322,800±$43k 20% below NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,587±$318Highest 6% above NH |
$1,375±$434 8% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Milton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,663Highest 15% below NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.7%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 8.1% NH: 7.2% |
7.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Milton 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 | #116 of 120 in NH | #118 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milton School District | Wakefield School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Nute High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| 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.