Compare towns
Wakefield vs Hooksett vs Acton vs Brookfield
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 kids (18.7% under 18).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Acton has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 58.1).
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 | Hooksett | Acton | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,405 |
15,057Highest |
2,721 |
567Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
58.1±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4 U.S.: 22% |
8.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Hooksett 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
38.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Brookfield 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. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$81,406±$31k about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett 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 |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
$428,000±$61kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
— | — |
| Hooksett and Wakefield 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. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$5,926 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— |
| Acton and Hooksett 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 35% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #43 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Hooksett School District | Acton Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.