Compare towns
Mapleton vs Penobscot 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
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Penobscot has the most homeowners (84.2%).
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.
| Measure | Mapleton | Penobscot | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,884 |
1,154Lowest |
6,571Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7 37% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$63,194±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$296,400±$58k 11% below U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,141±$33Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
| Penobscot and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$1,852 41% below U.S. |
$4,531Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Penobscot and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Penobscot 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 | — | — | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Penobscot Public Schools | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.