Compare towns
Bradley vs Wolfeboro vs Orono
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bradley has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Orono has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).
Orono is a college town. 56.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Bradley | Wolfeboro | Orono |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,645Lowest |
6,571 |
11,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±9.7 10% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
6.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bradley and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
56.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,667±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$61,528±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Bradley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,800±$37kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$272,600±$40k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,088±$325Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,255±$112Highest 11% below U.S. |
| Orono and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,946Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
$4,830Highest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±22.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.1%±10.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orono and Bradley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
24.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
46.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Bradley 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH | #26 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 34 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | RSU 26 |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Orono High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.