What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).

Wolfeboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).

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	Chester	Wolfeboro
People
Population	2,992Lowest	6,571Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.7±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S.	57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%	13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Chester and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.8%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wolfeboro and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	45%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chester and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S.	$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S.	$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S.	$1,103±$76Highest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S.	$4,531Highest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	12%±11.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wolfeboro and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wolfeboro and Chester 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	#49 of 70 in VT	#46 of 120 in NH
School district	Green Mountain Unified School District #77	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	Green Mountain Union High School	Kingswood Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.7Lowest	11.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.