What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wakefield has the oldest population (median age 49.4).

Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wakefield	Webster
People
Population	5,405Highest	2,227Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH	44.7±7.6Lowest 3% above NH
	Wakefield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2%	22.6%±8Highest NH: 18.2%
	Webster and Wakefield 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%	19.4%±1.3Highest NH: 20.1%
	Webster 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 NH: 40.6%	30.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	3%±1.4Highest NH: 6%
	Webster 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±$11kLowest about the NH average	$107,171±$14kHighest 8% above NH
	Webster 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±$43kLowest 20% below NH	$338,500±$30kHighest 16% below NH
	Webster and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$434Lowest 8% below NH	$1,396±$622Highest 6% below NH
	Webster and Wakefield 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	$6,021Highest 10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2%	53.6%±71Highest NH: 48.2%
	Webster 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%	9.6%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.8%Highest NH: 72.8%	96%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH	1979Lowest same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 34% above NH	31 minLowest 14% above NH
Work from home	15.1%±9.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	17.1%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8%
	Webster 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	—
School district	Wakefield School District	Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.