What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wakefield has the most kids (18.7% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wakefield	Candia
People
Population	5,405Highest	4,134Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+2.7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH	48.3±3.8Lowest 12% above NH
	Wakefield and Candia 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%	12.8%±3.5Lowest 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%	23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1%
	Candia 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%Lowest NH: 40.6%	27.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	5.7%±2.6Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,976±$11kLowest about the NH average	$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±$43kLowest 20% 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	$6,100Highest 9% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±82.9 NH: 48.2%	0%±21.6 NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	7.2%Highest NH: 7.2%	1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.8%Highest NH: 72.8%	91.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH	1979Lowest same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 34% above NH	34 minLowest 29% above NH
Work from home	15.1%±9.3Highest NH: 16.8%	10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Wakefield and Candia 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	Candia School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.