What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).

Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).

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	Gardner	Wolfeboro
People
Population	21,148Highest	6,571Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S.	57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%	13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Gardner and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	45%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Gardner and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S.	$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S.
	Wolfeboro and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S.	$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,109±$51Highest 22% below U.S.	$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Gardner and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S.	$4,531Highest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wolfeboro and Gardner 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	#273 of 282 in MA	#46 of 120 in NH
School district	Gardner	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	Gardner High	Kingswood Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	11.1Lowest
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.