Compare towns
Orono vs Wolfeboro vs Old Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orono has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Old Town has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Orono is a college town. 56.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Orono | Wolfeboro | Old Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902Highest |
6,571Lowest |
7,470 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
37±1.5 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 6.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 56.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.2%±6.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,528±$5k 24% below U.S. |
$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$51,585±$10kLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,600±$40k 18% below U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$208,100±$26kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,255±$112Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$989±$100Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Orono and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,830Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
$3,153Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±10.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±15 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orono and Old Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 24.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 46.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±11.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Old Town 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 | #26 of 133 in ME | #46 of 120 in NH | #56 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 26 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | RSU 34 |
| High school in town | Orono High School | Kingswood Regional High School | Old Town High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.1 |
12.8Highest |
| 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.