Compare towns
Wakefield vs Putney vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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.
| Measure | Wakefield | Putney | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
2,622 |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1Highest 27% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,976±$11k 25% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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 about the U.S. average |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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 about the U.S. average |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
| Wakefield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,954Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.