Compare towns
Middleton vs Wolfeboro vs Surry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleton has the most affordable homes ($312k median).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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 | Middleton | Wolfeboro | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,595 |
6,571Highest |
1,052Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.5±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
44.7±5.1 3% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.2 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Surry and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Surry and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$8k about the NH average |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$110,125±$25kHighest 11% above NH |
| Surry and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,300±$27kLowest 22% below NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$331,400±$23k 18% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$293 about the NH average |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
| Surry and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,504 17% below NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$6,384Highest 4% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Middleton and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 45% above NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.1%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Surry 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 | Middleton School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.