What stands out worked out from the figures below

Highgate has the most affordable homes ($281k 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	Highgate	Wolfeboro
People
Population	3,528Lowest	6,571Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44±7.4Lowest 13% above U.S.	57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S.
Kids under 18	15.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22%	13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Highgate and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	45%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wolfeboro and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,017±$14kLowest about the U.S. average	$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S.
	Wolfeboro and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$280,500±$21kLowest 16% below U.S.	$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S.	$1,103±$76Highest 22% below U.S.
	Wolfeboro and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S.	$4,531Highest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.5%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Highgate and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	14.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wolfeboro and Highgate 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	#43 of 70 in VT	#46 of 120 in NH
School district	Missisquoi Valley School District #89	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	Missisquoi Valley Union High School	Kingswood Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	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.