Compare towns
Wakefield vs Lee vs Loudon vs Barnstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Loudon has the most renters (10.4% rent).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.
| Measure | Wakefield | Lee | Loudon | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,405 |
4,576Lowest |
5,692Highest |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1 14% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
49.5±3.2Highest 14% above NH |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
| Loudon and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
22%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Loudon 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 NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
29.3% NH: 40.6% |
30.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,976±$11kLowest about the NH average |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$106,966±$16k 8% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
| Lee and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$363,400±$48k 10% below NH |
$362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434 8% below NH |
— | $1,321±$465Lowest 11% below NH |
$1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
| Barnstead and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$5,821 13% below NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
45.5%±30.4 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Barnstead and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
89.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 14% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #99 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Merrimack Valley School District | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.