Compare towns
Wakefield vs Wolfeboro vs Milton
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 homeowners (96.8%).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Milton has the youngest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Wolfeboro | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405 |
6,571Highest |
4,538Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1 14% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
45.7±2.4Lowest 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| Wakefield and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2% NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Wolfeboro and Milton 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 |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$94,493±$27k 5% below NH |
| Wakefield and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,800±$43k 20% below NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$318,400±$34kLowest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434 8% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,587±$318Highest 6% above NH |
| Milton 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 |
$4,531 32% below NH |
$5,663Highest 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
63.7%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Milton 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 | #116 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Milton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Nute High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
10.6Lowest |
| 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.