Compare towns
Wakefield vs Lee vs Milton
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 oldest population (median age 49.4).
Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Lee | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
4,576 |
4,538Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH |
42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
45.7±2.4 6% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee 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 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee 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% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Lee and Milton 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 about the NH average |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$94,493±$27kLowest 5% below NH |
| Lee 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±$43k 20% below NH |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$318,400±$34kLowest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434Lowest 8% below NH |
— | $1,587±$318Highest 6% above NH |
| 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 56% below NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$5,663 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
63.7%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Milton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
33 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Milton 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 | #116 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Oyster River Coop School District | 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 Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.