Compare towns
Wakefield vs Epping vs Milton
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 homeowners (96.8%).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Milton has the most affordable homes ($318k 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.
| Measure | Wakefield | Epping | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405 |
7,430Highest |
4,538Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
45.7±2.4 6% above NH |
| Wakefield and Milton 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% |
18.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Epping 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% NH: 40.6% |
37%Highest NH: 40.6% |
21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Epping and Milton 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 |
$104,220±$7kHighest 5% above NH |
$94,493±$27kLowest 5% below NH |
| Epping 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 |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$318,400±$34kLowest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,587±$318 6% above NH |
| Epping and Milton 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 |
$6,936Highest 4% above NH |
$5,663 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
63.7%±24.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Milton 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
32 minLowest 21% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Milton 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #116 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Epping School District | Milton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | Nute High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
10.6Highest |
| 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.