Compare towns
Grafton vs Wolfeboro vs Orange
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 the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Orange has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,354 |
6,571Highest |
320Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 43.1±10.6 about the NH average |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
41.3±9.1Lowest 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Grafton and Orange 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% |
20%±5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±3.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Orange 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±$22kLowest 18% below NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$118,750±$39kHighest 20% above NH |
| Orange and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$23kLowest 34% below NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$302,600±$35k 25% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,243±$163Highest 17% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% 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 |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$5,132 23% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±34.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Grafton and Wolfeboro 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% |
9.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 43 minHighest 62% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
28 min 5% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±6.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.8%±8.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Orange 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.