Compare towns

Wakefield vs Westminster 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 homeowners (96.8%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (23.1%).
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.

MeasureWakefieldWestminsterLoudon
People
Population
5,405
497Lowest
5,692Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+4.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.4±4.1
27% above U.S.
43.3±11.5Lowest
11% above U.S.
49.5±3.2Highest
27% above U.S.
Loudon and Wakefield 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%
28.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.8%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Westminster 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
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±11.4
U.S.: 17.2%
22%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Loudon and Westminster 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%
45.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.4%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Westminster 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.
$81,000±$22kLowest
about the U.S. average
$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
$313,600±$39kLowest
6% 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±$434Highest
about the U.S. average
$749±$315Lowest
47% below U.S.
$1,321±$465
7% below U.S.
Wakefield and Loudon 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.
$4,480
44% above U.S.
$5,821Highest
87% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±82.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
6.1%±43.8
U.S.: 51.1%
45.5%±30.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Loudon and Westminster 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%
2.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
35% above U.S.
30 minLowest
13% above U.S.
30 min
15% above U.S.
Work from home
15.1%±9.3
U.S.: 15.1%
23.1%±15.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.9%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Westminster 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 #53 of 70 in VT #99 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 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.