Compare towns
Reading vs Ripton vs Wolfeboro vs West Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
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 | Reading | Ripton | Wolfeboro | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
508Lowest |
6,571Highest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
50.3±7.6 29% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$76,500±$16kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$237,200±$35kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,113±$171Highest 21% below U.S. |
| West Fairlee and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,210 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±89.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #46 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.