Compare towns
Wakefield vs Williston vs Brookfield
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 affordable homes ($323k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 58.1).
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 | Williston | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405 |
10,144Highest |
567Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
58.1±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Brookfield 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
8.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
38.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Brookfield 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. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$81,406±$31kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Williston 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 about the U.S. average |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$428,000±$61k 29% above U.S. |
| Williston and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
— |
| Williston 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. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$5,926Highest 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— |
| Williston and Wakefield 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| 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.