Compare towns

Wakefield vs Nottingham 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).
Nottingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
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.

MeasureWakefieldNottinghamMilton
People
Population
5,405Highest
5,357
4,538Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.4%
NH: +4.6%
+9.3%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-2.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
49.4±4.1Highest
14% above NH
38.8±6.7Lowest
10% below NH
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%
23.9%±5.4Highest
NH: 18.2%
18.4%±5Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Nottingham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.8%±4.7Highest
NH: 20.1%
18.4%±4.2
NH: 20.1%
16.1%±3.4Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Wakefield and Nottingham 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%
40.9%Highest
NH: 40.6%
21.7%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.4%±1.1Lowest
NH: 6%
5.9%±2.6Highest
NH: 6%
2.3%±1.8
NH: 6%
Nottingham 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
$122,201±$20kHighest
23% above NH
$94,493±$27kLowest
5% below NH
Nottingham 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
$457,500±$26kHighest
14% above NH
$318,400±$34kLowest
21% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,375±$434Lowest
8% below NH
$2,068±$1kHighest
39% above NH
$1,587±$318
6% above NH
Nottingham and Milton 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
$7,319Highest
10% above NH
$5,663
15% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±82.9Lowest
NH: 48.2%
92.1%±44.9Highest
NH: 48.2%
63.7%±24.9
NH: 48.2%
Nottingham and Milton 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%
1.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
8.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.8%Highest
NH: 72.8%
94.3%
NH: 72.8%
86.3%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Lowest
1 yr newer than NH
1992Highest
13 yrs newer than NH
1980Lowest
1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
34% above NH
34 min
27% above NH
33 minLowest
25% above NH
Work from home
15.1%±9.3Lowest
NH: 16.8%
22.2%±5.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
18.9%±6.7
NH: 16.8%
Nottingham 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 #15 of 120 in NH #116 of 120 in NH
School district Wakefield School District Nottingham 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 History None yet 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.