What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ellsworth	Wolfeboro
People
Population	8,657Highest	6,571Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S.	57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ellsworth and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	45%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ellsworth and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,375±$18kLowest 4% below U.S.	$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S.
	Wolfeboro and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S.	$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S.	$1,103±$76Highest 22% below U.S.
	Wolfeboro and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S.	$4,531Highest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 7% below U.S.	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#63 of 133 in ME	#46 of 120 in NH
School district	Ellsworth Public Schools	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	Ellsworth High School	Kingswood Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.