Compare towns
Hancock vs Wolfeboro vs Stratton vs Orleans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the most renters (40.5% rent).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k 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 | Hancock | Wolfeboro | Stratton | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
6,571Highest |
532 |
809 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 13% below U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S. |
41.7±5.8 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratton and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34k 6% below U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$57,159±$10kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Stratton and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,900±$11k 44% below U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$400,000±$50k 20% above U.S. |
$156,300±$18kLowest 53% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19 34% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,208±$979Highest 15% below U.S. |
$810±$94Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Stratton and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,511 13% above U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
$4,750Highest 52% above U.S. |
$3,019Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±69.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.3%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orleans and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Hancock 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 History | None yet | 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.