What stands out worked out from the figures below

Penobscot has the most affordable homes ($296k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Penobscot	Wolfeboro
People
Population	1,154Lowest	6,571Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.4±5.7Lowest 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	18%±6Highest U.S.: 22%	13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Penobscot and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	32%±4.5Lowest 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+	32.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	45%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wolfeboro and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,194±$14kLowest 22% below U.S.	$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S.
	Wolfeboro and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$296,400±$58kLowest 11% below U.S.	$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,141±$33Highest 19% below U.S.	$1,103±$76Lowest 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	$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S.	$4,531Highest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Penobscot and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	17.7%±13.5Lowest 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	Penobscot Public Schools	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 History	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.