Compare towns
Wakefield vs Hope vs Milton
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 oldest population (median age 49.4).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Milton has the most renters (13.7% rent).
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 | Hope | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
1,748Lowest |
4,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1Highest 27% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.7±2.4 17% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hope 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% |
21.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hope 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Milton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,976±$11kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$86,766±$6kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$94,493±$27k 17% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Milton 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 |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Hope and Wakefield 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 |
$1,219±$182Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,587±$318Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Milton 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. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
$5,663Highest 82% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±24.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Milton and Hope 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% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Milton and Hope 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 | — | #116 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Hope Public Schools | Milton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Nute High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.