Compare towns
Wakefield vs Appleton vs Candia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Appleton | Candia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
1,360Lowest |
4,134 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1Highest 27% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
48.3±3.8Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.1%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Candia and Appleton 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 25% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$119,737±$37kHighest 48% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$415,600±$46kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,213±$554 14% below U.S. |
| 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 5% below U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$6,100Highest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±21.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield and Appleton 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 | Appleton Public Schools | Candia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.