Compare towns
Washington vs Middleton vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Middleton has the youngest population (median age 43.5).
Wakefield has the most people working from home (15.1%).
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 | Washington | Middleton | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208Lowest |
1,595 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55±4.7Highest 27% above NH |
43.5±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
49.4±4.1 14% above NH |
| Washington and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±4.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Middleton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.9%±2 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
26.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.2%±1.9 NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Washington and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,453±$12kLowest 10% below NH |
$101,696±$8kHighest about the NH average |
$100,976±$11k about the NH average |
| Middleton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,600±$32kHighest 11% below NH |
$312,300±$27kLowest 22% below NH |
$322,800±$43k 20% below NH |
| Washington and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$160Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,500±$293Highest about the NH average |
$1,375±$434 8% below NH |
| Middleton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,321 35% below NH |
$5,504Highest 17% below NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±88.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
83.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Middleton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.5% NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minLowest 33% above NH |
39 minHighest 45% above NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.3 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wakefield and Washington 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 | Washington School District | Middleton School District | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.