What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).

Wakefield has the oldest population (median age 49.4).

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	Webster	Wakefield
People
Population	2,227Lowest	5,405Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+2.4%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.7±7.6Lowest 3% above NH	49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH
	Wakefield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.6%±8Highest NH: 18.2%	18.7%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Webster and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±1.3Highest NH: 20.1%	18.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Webster and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.7%Highest NH: 40.6%	26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.4Highest NH: 6%	1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Webster and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,171±$14kHighest 8% above NH	$100,976±$11kLowest about the NH average
	Webster and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$338,500±$30kHighest 16% below NH	$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH
	Webster and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,396±$622Highest 6% below NH	$1,375±$434Lowest 8% below NH
	Webster and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,021Highest 10% below NH	$2,954Lowest 56% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.6%±71Highest NH: 48.2%	0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Webster and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Highest NH: 7.2%	7.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96%Lowest NH: 72.8%	96.8%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest same as NH	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 14% above NH	36 minHighest 34% above NH
Work from home	17.1%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8%	15.1%±9.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Webster 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	Merrimack Valley School District	Wakefield School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.