Compare towns
Wakefield vs Salisbury vs Loudon
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 most people working from home (15.1%).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Loudon has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
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 | Salisbury | Loudon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405 |
1,200Lowest |
5,692Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1Lowest 27% above U.S. |
50.6±6.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
49.5±3.2 27% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Loudon 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% |
16.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Loudon 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% |
30.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury 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±$11k 25% above U.S. |
$99,688±$21kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$106,966±$16kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Loudon 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 |
$306,900±$51kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$363,400±$48kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Loudon and Wakefield 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 |
$1,443±$984Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,321±$465Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Salisbury 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. |
$4,842 55% above U.S. |
$5,821Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.9%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±30.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Loudon and Salisbury 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% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield and Loudon 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 | — | #99 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Merrimack Valley School District |
| 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.