What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

Center Harbor has the most expensive homes ($464k 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	Center Harbor
People
Population	5,405Highest	955Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest NH: +4.6%	-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	49.4±4.1Lowest 14% above NH	60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH
Kids under 18	18.7%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2%	11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Wakefield and Center Harbor 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%	39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	47.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.1Highest NH: 6%	0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Wakefield and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,976±$11kLowest about the NH average	$104,313±$16kHighest 5% above NH
	Center Harbor 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	$463,800±$74kHighest 15% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$434 8% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,954Lowest 56% below NH	$4,667Highest 30% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2%	14.3%±59.4Highest NH: 48.2%
	Center Harbor and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Highest NH: 7.2%	2%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.8%Highest NH: 72.8%	91%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 34% above NH	25 minLowest 8% below NH
Work from home	15.1%±9.3Highest NH: 16.8%	8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Wakefield and Center Harbor 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	—
School district	Wakefield School District	—
High school 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.