Compare towns
Wakefield vs Barnstead vs Milton
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 oldest population (median age 49.4).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Milton has the most people working from home (18.9%).
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 | Barnstead | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
4,994 |
4,538Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
45.7±2.4 6% above NH |
| Wakefield and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2% NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Milton 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 |
$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
$94,493±$27kLowest 5% below NH |
| Barnstead 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 |
$362,400±$25kHighest 10% below NH |
$318,400±$34kLowest 21% below NH |
| Barnstead and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,587±$318Highest 6% above NH |
| Milton and Barnstead 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 |
$6,003Highest 10% below NH |
$5,663 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
63.7%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Milton and Barnstead 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% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
31 minLowest 16% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Milton 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 | #118 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #116 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Barnstead School District | Milton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Nute High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.