What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).

Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).

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	Hanover	Wolfeboro
People
Population	14,845Highest	6,571Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±1.4Lowest 7% above U.S.	57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S.
Kids under 18	26.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	45%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hanover and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$189,803±$23kHighest 135% above U.S.	$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S.	$546,500±$60kLowest 64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,845±$341Highest 31% above U.S.	$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,342Highest 200% above U.S.	$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 21% above U.S.	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	19.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wolfeboro and Hanover 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	#69 of 282 in MA	#46 of 120 in NH
School district	Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	South Shore Vocational Technical High	Kingswood Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	11.1Highest
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.