Compare towns
Fryeburg vs Wolfeboro vs Waldoboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fryeburg has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Waldoboro has the most kids (15.6% under 18).
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 | Fryeburg | Wolfeboro | Waldoboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,489Lowest |
6,571Highest |
5,253 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.3±3.4 37% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
50.1±4.6Lowest 29% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waldoboro and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wolfeboro and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,076±$15kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$69,107±$8k 14% below U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,600±$30kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$274,900±$39k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $893±$85 37% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76Highest 22% below U.S. |
$348±$153Lowest 75% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,928 6% below U.S. |
$4,531Highest 45% above U.S. |
$2,861Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±14.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Fryeburg 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 | #103 of 133 in ME | #46 of 120 in NH | #55 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 72/MSAD 72 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Medomak Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.