Compare towns
Wakefield vs Epping vs Newfield vs Barnstead
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%).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Newfield has the oldest population (median age 52.8).
Barnstead has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Newfield | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,405 |
7,430Highest |
1,580Lowest |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
52.8±8.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Newfield 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% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead 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% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newfield and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$57,188±$20kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Barnstead and Epping 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 |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$318,100±$27kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$362,400±$25k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
— | $1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
| Epping and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,954 5% below U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$2,402Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$6,003 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 35% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
49 minHighest 85% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | — | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Epping School District | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.