What stands out worked out from the figures below

Minot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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.

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

Measure	Minot	Wakefield
People
Population	2,794Lowest	5,405Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49±6.1Lowest 26% above U.S.	49.4±4.1Highest 27% above U.S.
	Wakefield and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Wakefield and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.3%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Minot and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	26.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,655±$17kLowest 18% above U.S.	$100,976±$11kHighest 25% above U.S.
	Wakefield and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$294,900±$26kLowest 11% below U.S.	$322,800±$43kHighest about the U.S. average
	Wakefield and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$878±$801Lowest 38% below U.S.	$1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average
	Wakefield and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,602Lowest 17% below U.S.	$2,954Highest 5% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.7%±40.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Minot and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	36 minHighest 35% above U.S.
Work from home	16.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Minot 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	#78 of 133 in ME	#118 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 16	Wakefield School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.