What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wakefield has the most people working from home (15.1%).

Jefferson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wakefield	Jefferson
People
Population	5,405Highest	2,647Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.4±4.1Highest 27% above U.S.	38.1±4.9Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	18.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	28%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Jefferson and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wakefield and Jefferson 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%	27.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Jefferson and Wakefield 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.	$85,078±$17kLowest 5% above U.S.
	Wakefield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$322,800±$43kHighest about the U.S. average	$311,600±$35kLowest 6% below U.S.
	Wakefield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average	$1,120±$130Lowest 21% below U.S.
	Wakefield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,954Highest 5% below U.S.	$2,587Lowest 17% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	29.8%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jefferson 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%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 35% above U.S.	30 minLowest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	15.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wakefield and Jefferson 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	#45 of 133 in ME
School district	Wakefield School District	Jefferson Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.