What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Holbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).

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	Holbrook
People
Population	5,405Lowest	11,380Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.4±4.1Highest 27% above U.S.	42.8±3.2Lowest 10% above U.S.
	Wakefield and Holbrook 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%	21.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Holbrook 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%	19.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Holbrook 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%	34.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,976±$11kLowest 25% above U.S.	$115,210±$14kHighest 43% above U.S.
	Holbrook 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	$465,400±$21kHighest 40% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average	$1,094±$423Lowest 23% below U.S.
	Wakefield and Holbrook 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.	$6,105Highest 96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	47.8%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Holbrook and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minLowest 35% above U.S.	38 minHighest 44% above U.S.
Work from home	15.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wakefield and Holbrook 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	#234 of 282 in MA
School district	Wakefield School District	Holbrook
High school in town	None in town	Holbrook Middle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	14.3
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.