Compare towns
Kingston vs Lancaster vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kingston has the most affordable homes ($493k median).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Kingston | Lancaster | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,275Lowest |
8,606Highest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7 43% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kingston and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,330±$12k 30% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $492,900±$58kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,393±$156 about the U.S. average |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,906Highest 153% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Wolfeboro 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #145 of 282 in MA | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Nashoba | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.