What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wakefield has the oldest population (median age 49.4).

Northwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).

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	Northwood
People
Population	5,405Highest	4,688Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH	42.4±7.8Lowest about the NH average
	Wakefield and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2%	18%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Wakefield and Northwood 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%	21.5%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Northwood 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%Lowest NH: 40.6%	38.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	3.8%±2Highest NH: 6%
	Northwood 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	$129,375±$23kHighest 31% above NH
	Northwood 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±$43kLowest 20% below NH	$363,000±$13kHighest 10% below NH
	Northwood and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$434Highest 8% below NH	$1,201±$372Lowest 19% below NH
	Wakefield and Northwood 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	$5,806Highest 13% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2%	23.7%±29.2Highest NH: 48.2%
	Northwood and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%	7.5%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.8%Highest NH: 72.8%	89%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH	1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minLowest 34% above NH	37 minHighest 37% above NH
Work from home	15.1%±9.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	18.7%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8%
	Northwood 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	#24 of 120 in NH
School district	Wakefield School District	Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District
High school in town	None in town	Coe-Brown Northwood Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.5
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.