Compare towns
Benton vs Lyman vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benton has the most affordable homes ($288k median).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Benton | Lyman | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 386Lowest |
464 |
6,571Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 62.1±1.9Highest 43% above NH |
60.8±6.5 40% above NH |
57±1.8Lowest 32% above NH |
| Benton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.7%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±6.7 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.3%±12.5 NH: 20.1% |
38.6%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyman and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
27.8% NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Wolfeboro and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,895±$4kLowest 31% below NH |
$71,042±$17k 28% below NH |
$94,375±$22kHighest 5% below NH |
| Wolfeboro and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$46kLowest 28% below NH |
$311,100±$66k 23% below NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,147±$81Highest 23% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Lyman and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,922Lowest 56% below NH |
$3,981 40% below NH |
$4,531Highest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
58.3%±100 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Benton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
14.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
89.3% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above NH |
24 min 10% below NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 2.6%±3.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
3.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school 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 |
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.