What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Alstead has the most renters (24% rent).

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	Wakefield	Alstead
People
Population	5,405Highest	1,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest NH: +4.6%	-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	49.4±4.1Lowest 14% above NH	56±3.3Highest 29% above NH
	Alstead and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2%	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Wakefield and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	28.3%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%
	Alstead and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,976±$11kHighest about the NH average	$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$322,800±$43kHighest 20% below NH	$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH
	Wakefield and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$434 8% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,954Lowest 56% below NH	$5,322Highest 20% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2%	72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Alstead and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%	8.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.8%Highest NH: 72.8%	76%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 34% above NH	32 minLowest 19% above NH
Work from home	15.1%±9.3Highest NH: 16.8%	12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Wakefield and Alstead 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	Wakefield School District	Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.