What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gilsum has the most affordable homes ($242k 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	Gilsum	Wolfeboro
People
Population	716Lowest	6,571Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+2.3%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.8±8.1Lowest 3% above NH	57±1.8Highest 32% above NH
Kids under 18	12%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	13.7%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2%
	Wolfeboro and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	45%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.3Highest NH: 6%	2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%
	Gilsum and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,417±$7kLowest 19% below NH	$94,375±$22kHighest 5% below NH
	Wolfeboro and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$241,500±$32kLowest 40% below NH	$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,575±$894Highest 6% above NH	$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH
	Gilsum and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,579Highest 16% below NH	$4,531Lowest 32% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2%	12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Gilsum and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.4%Highest NH: 7.2%	8.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the NH average	24 minLowest 11% below NH
Work from home	11.9%±8.7Lowest NH: 16.8%	22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Wolfeboro and Gilsum 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
School district	Monadnock Regional School District	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	Kingswood Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NH 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.