Compare towns
Belgrade vs Sidney vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belgrade has the most affordable homes ($312k median).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
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 | Belgrade | Sidney | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,351Lowest |
4,790 |
6,571Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.6 22% above U.S. |
43±5.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belgrade and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,338±$13k 9% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,200±$44kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,859 8% below U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$4,531Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Belgrade and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Belgrade 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 | #71 of 133 in ME | #15 of 133 in ME | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 18 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.