What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rockingham has the shortest commute (20 min average).

Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

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.

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

Measure	Rockingham	Wakefield
People
Population	4,807Lowest	5,405Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±2.6Lowest 19% above U.S.	49.4±4.1Highest 27% above U.S.
	Wakefield and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%	18.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Rockingham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.8%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,857±$16kLowest 12% below U.S.	$100,976±$11kHighest 25% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$210,900±$14kLowest 37% below U.S.	$322,800±$43kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,062±$101Lowest 25% below U.S.	$1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average
	Wakefield and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,887Highest 57% above U.S.	$2,954Lowest 5% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.7%±13.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rockingham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 25% below U.S.	36 minHighest 35% above U.S.
Work from home	17.9%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rockingham 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	#65 of 70 in VT	#118 of 120 in NH
School district	Rockingham School District	Wakefield School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.