Compare towns
Wakefield vs Brookline vs Loudon
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 homeowners (96.8%).
Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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 | Brookline | Loudon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405 |
531Lowest |
5,692Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7Lowest 16% above U.S. |
49.5±3.2Highest 27% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Loudon and Brookline 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% |
41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline 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 25% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
$106,966±$16kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$363,400±$48kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,321±$465Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Wakefield 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. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
$5,821Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±30.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookline and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline 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 | — | #99 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wakefield School District | — | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school 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.