Compare towns
Wakefield vs Windham vs Loudon
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 affordable homes ($323k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Loudon has the most renters (10.4% rent).
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 | Windham | Loudon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Lowest |
16,038Highest |
5,692 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1 14% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
49.5±3.2Highest 14% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Loudon 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% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
29.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Windham 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 |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$106,966±$16k 8% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$363,400±$48k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434 8% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,321±$465Lowest 11% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,821 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
45.5%±30.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
89.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
30 minLowest 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #99 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Windham School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.