Compare towns
Wakefield vs Gorham vs Candia
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 affordable homes ($323k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Candia has the highest household income ($120k).
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 | Gorham | Candia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405 |
18,300Highest |
4,134Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1Highest 27% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.3±3.8 24% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,976±$11kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$119,737±$37kHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Candia and Gorham 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 |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$415,600±$46k 25% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434 about the U.S. average |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,213±$554Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Wakefield 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. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$6,100Highest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±21.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gorham 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #41 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Gorham Public Schools | Candia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.