What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).

Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wayne	Wakefield
People
Population	1,101Lowest	5,405Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S.	49.4±4.1Lowest 27% above U.S.
	Wayne and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Wakefield and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,194±$26kLowest 15% above U.S.	$100,976±$11kHighest 25% above U.S.
	Wakefield and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,800±$29kHighest 9% above U.S.	$322,800±$43kLowest about the U.S. average
	Wayne and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S.	$1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average
	Wakefield and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,289Highest 5% above U.S.	$2,954Lowest 5% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25%±52.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wayne and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980 same as U.S.	1980 same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 15% above U.S.	36 minHighest 35% above U.S.
Work from home	26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wayne 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
School district	RSU 38	Wakefield School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.