Compare towns
Wakefield vs Randolph vs Milton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Randolph has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Milton has the most people working from home (18.9%).
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 | Randolph | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
4,843 |
4,538Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1Highest 27% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4Lowest 4% above U.S. |
45.7±2.4 17% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Milton 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% |
22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,976±$11kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$94,493±$27k 17% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Milton 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 |
$278,700±$38kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
| Wakefield and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434 about the U.S. average |
$1,172±$173Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,587±$318Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Milton and Wakefield 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. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
$5,663Highest 82% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±24.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Milton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Milton 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | #116 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Milton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | Nute High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4Lowest |
10.6Highest |
| 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.