Compare towns
Wakefield vs Bath vs Loudon
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 people working from home (15.1%).
Bath has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Loudon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
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 | Bath | Loudon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405 |
1,097Lowest |
5,692Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% NH: +4.6% |
0%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1 14% above NH |
48.6±8.6Lowest 12% above NH |
49.5±3.2Highest 14% above NH |
| Loudon and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bath and Wakefield 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% |
26.1%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
22%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bath and Loudon 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% |
26.8% NH: 40.6% |
29.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.4%±2Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bath 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±$11k about the NH average |
$67,813±$22kLowest 32% below NH |
$106,966±$16kHighest 8% above NH |
| Loudon 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 |
$234,400±$23kLowest 42% below NH |
$363,400±$48kHighest 10% below NH |
| Loudon and Wakefield 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 |
$1,438±$309Highest 4% below NH |
$1,321±$465Lowest 11% below NH |
| Bath and Wakefield 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 |
$4,413 34% below NH |
$5,821Highest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
5.9%±61.3 NH: 48.2% |
45.5%±30.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Loudon and Bath 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% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.9% NH: 72.8% |
89.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
30 min 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.1%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wakefield and Bath 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 | — | #99 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Bath School District | Merrimack Valley 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 |
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.