Compare towns

Ripton vs Reading 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

Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k 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.

MeasureRiptonReadingWolfeboro
People
Population
508Lowest
699
6,571Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.7±14.2Lowest
23% above U.S.
51.1±7.6
31% above U.S.
57±1.8Highest
47% 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
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.5%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.7%±3.3
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+
30.5%±7.1
U.S.: 17.2%
28.2%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
34.6%±5.2Highest
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+
48%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
45%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$85,000±$19kLowest
5% above U.S.
$94,375±$22k
17% above 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
$394,400±$61k
19% above U.S.
$377,200±$72kLowest
13% above U.S.
$546,500±$60kHighest
64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,100±$331Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,103±$76Highest
22% below U.S.
Wolfeboro and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,915
58% above U.S.
$5,754Highest
84% above U.S.
$4,531Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±31.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
12%±11.6Lowest
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
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
9% below U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
Work from home
17.2%±8.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±10.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — #46 of 120 in NH
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 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.