Compare towns
Grafton vs Wolfeboro vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($191k 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.
| Measure | Grafton | Wolfeboro | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,354 |
6,571Highest |
916Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
-4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.1±10.6Lowest about the NH average |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
44.5±12.9 about the NH average |
| Wolfeboro and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±11.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Grafton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.7% NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±4.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Dalton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$22k 18% below NH |
$94,375±$22kHighest 5% below NH |
$81,429±$36kLowest 18% below NH |
| Wolfeboro and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$23k 34% below NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$191,400±$68kLowest 52% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,243±$163Highest 17% below NH |
$1,103±$76 26% below NH |
$900±$825Lowest 40% below NH |
| Grafton and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,239Highest 21% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
$3,561Lowest 47% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±34.1 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±83.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dalton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
19.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 43 minHighest 62% above NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
20 minLowest 26% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.9%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Grafton 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 | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Kingswood Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.