What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jay has the most affordable homes ($169k median).

Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).

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	Jay	Wolfeboro
People
Population	4,657Lowest	6,571Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.5±5.1Lowest about the U.S. average	57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%	13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Jay and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	45%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Jay and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,238±$19kLowest 13% below U.S.	$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S.
	Wolfeboro and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$168,600±$27kLowest 49% below U.S.	$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$759±$141Lowest 46% below U.S.	$1,103±$76Highest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,245Lowest 28% below U.S.	$4,531Highest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.2%±28.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jay and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%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	21 minLowest 19% below U.S.	24 minHighest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	4.8%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#86 of 133 in ME	#46 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 73	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	Spruce Mountain High School	Kingswood Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Highest	11.1Lowest
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.