Compare towns
Jay vs Wolfeboro vs Oakland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Wolfeboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Oakland has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
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 | Jay | Wolfeboro | Oakland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,657Lowest |
6,571Highest |
6,309 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
40.2±6.9 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakland and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakland and Jay 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. |
$77,813±$16k 4% below U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Oakland 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. |
$236,000±$23k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76Highest 22% below U.S. |
$939±$74 34% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$4,531Highest 45% above U.S. |
$2,439 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.7%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oakland and Jay 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #86 of 133 in ME | #46 of 120 in NH | #23 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 73 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | Kingswood Regional High School | Messalonskee High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
11.1Lowest |
14.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.