Compare towns
Wakefield vs Washington vs Wolfeboro
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 most kids (18.7% under 18).
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k 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 | Washington | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405 |
1,208Lowest |
6,571Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% NH: +4.6% |
+6.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1Lowest 14% above NH |
55±4.7 27% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Washington 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% |
13.8%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Wakefield and Washington 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% |
29%±3 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Washington 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% |
32% NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.6%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Washington and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,976±$11kHighest about the NH average |
$89,453±$12kLowest 10% below NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Wakefield and Wolfeboro 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 |
$358,600±$32k 11% below NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434Highest 8% below NH |
$1,106±$160 26% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Wakefield and Washington 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 |
$4,321 35% below NH |
$4,531Highest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
0%±88.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Wolfeboro 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% |
8.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
94.4% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
36 min 33% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Washington School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.