What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wakefield has the oldest population (median age 49.4).

Middleton has the youngest population (median age 43.5).

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	Middleton
People
Population	5,405Highest	1,595Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH	43.5±5.7Lowest about the NH average
	Wakefield and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2%	18.9%±4.2Highest NH: 18.2%
	Middleton and Wakefield 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%	18.9%±2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Middleton 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%Highest NH: 40.6%	23.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	3.2%±1.9Highest NH: 6%
	Middleton 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±$11kLowest about the NH average	$101,696±$8kHighest about the NH average
	Middleton 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±$43kHighest 20% below NH	$312,300±$27kLowest 22% below NH
	Wakefield and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$434Lowest 8% below NH	$1,500±$293Highest about the NH average
	Middleton 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	$5,504Highest 17% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2%	83.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2%
	Middleton 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 NH: 7.2%	5.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.8%Highest NH: 72.8%	96.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minLowest 34% above NH	39 minHighest 45% above NH
Work from home	15.1%±9.3Highest NH: 16.8%	14.1%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Wakefield and Middleton 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	—
School district	Wakefield School District	Middleton School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.