Compare towns
Wakefield vs Alstead vs Candia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
Alstead has the most renters (24% rent).
Candia has the most expensive homes ($416k 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 | Wakefield | Alstead | Candia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
1,551Lowest |
4,134 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1 14% above NH |
56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
48.3±3.8Lowest 12% 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% |
12.8%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Wakefield and Candia 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% |
23.1%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Alstead and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Candia and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,976±$11k about the NH average |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$119,737±$37kHighest 21% above NH |
| Candia and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,800±$43k 20% below NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
$415,600±$46kHighest 3% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434Highest 8% below NH |
— | $1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
| Wakefield and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
$5,322 20% below NH |
$6,100Highest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
32 minLowest 19% above NH |
34 min 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4Lowest 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 | — | #41 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Candia 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.