What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wakefield has the most kids (18.7% under 18).

Minot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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	Minot
People
Population	5,405Highest	2,794Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.4±4.1Highest 27% above U.S.	49±6.1Lowest 26% above U.S.
	Wakefield and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Wakefield and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.3%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Minot 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 U.S.: 35.7%	25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,976±$11kHighest 25% above U.S.	$95,655±$17kLowest 18% above U.S.
	Wakefield and Minot 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	$294,900±$26kLowest 11% below U.S.
	Wakefield and Minot 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	$878±$801Lowest 38% below U.S.
	Wakefield and Minot 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.	$2,602Lowest 17% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	35.7%±40.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Minot 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%	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	96%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 35% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Minot 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	#78 of 133 in ME
School district	Wakefield School District	RSU 16
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.