The Town FilesWakefield, New Hampshire
Town in Carroll County · population 5,201 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $322,800
- Household income
- $100,976
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 77 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 49.4
Wakefield is a town of 5,201 people in Carroll County, New Hampshire. The median home is worth $322,800, below the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). It ranks quieter than 93% of New Hampshire towns.
How Wakefield ranks
Percentile among New Hampshire towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Wakefield is worth $322,800, below the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $100,976, which is more affordable than 83% of New Hampshire towns. Median rent is $1,375 a month. 96.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wakefield | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $322,800 | $357,650 |
| Median rent | $1,375 | $1,285 |
| Median household income | $100,976 | $94,107 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 96.8% | 82.1% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 45.1% | — |
Who lives in Wakefield
| People | Wakefield | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.4 | 46.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.8% | 22.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.2% | 36.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.2% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 15.1% | 14.2% |
| Average commute | 35.7 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.6% | 92.5% |
Weather in Wakefield
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 9.9°F. About 51.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 76.8 inches of snow (typical New Hampshire town: 67.7 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 156 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wakefield since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New Hampshire town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 24, 2008 about 4.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 21, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 26, 2022.
Severe weather in Carroll County since 1996
Carroll County has been included in 36 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 7, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4947: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| July 10, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4799: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| February 27, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4761: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| September 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4740: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4693: Severe Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Carroll County
Carroll County had 19,693 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,660 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Wakefield itself the ACS puts it at 2.3%.
Towns near Wakefield
- Acton, ME5.3 mi · 2,671 people · home $334,300
- Wolfeboro, NH8.1 mi · 6,416 people · home $546,500
- Shapleigh, ME9.3 mi · 2,921 people · home $356,000
- Milton, NH9.8 mi · 4,482 people · home $318,400
- Wolfeboro, NH10.1 mi · 3,300 people · home $475,200
- New Durham, NH11.5 mi · 2,693 people · home $339,400
- Ossipee, NH12.2 mi · 4,372 people · home $325,500
- Limerick, ME13.2 mi · 3,188 people · home $269,400
Wakefield questions
Is Wakefield, New Hampshire a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wakefield scores better for retirees than 25% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 93%. 18.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.4).
How much does a house cost in Wakefield?
The median owner-occupied home in Wakefield is valued at $322,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $100,976, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,375 a month.
What is the weather like in Wakefield?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 9.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.3 inches of precipitation a year and 76.8 inches of snow.
Does Wakefield get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wakefield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 24, 2008. The typical New Hampshire town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)