What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($323k median).

Dayton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).

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	Dayton
People
Population	5,405Highest	2,313Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.4±4.1Highest 27% above U.S.	42.1±5.5Lowest 8% above U.S.
	Wakefield and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.4%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dayton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wakefield and Dayton 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%	27.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dayton 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±$11kLowest 25% above U.S.	$113,750±$24kHighest 41% above U.S.
	Dayton 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 about the U.S. average	$398,200±$34kHighest 20% above U.S.
	Dayton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average	$1,215±$867Lowest 14% below U.S.
	Wakefield and Dayton 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.	$3,872Highest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	38%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dayton 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 U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	89.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 35% above U.S.	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dayton 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	—
School district	Wakefield School District	Dayton Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.