Compare towns

Ripton vs Strafford 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%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).

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.

MeasureRiptonStraffordWolfeboro
People
Population
508Lowest
1,372
6,571Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.7±14.2Lowest
23% above U.S.
51.4±4.7
32% above U.S.
57±1.8Highest
47% above U.S.
Wolfeboro and Strafford 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%
23%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.7%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
30.5%±7.1
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±3.4Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
45%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$110,833±$19k
37% above U.S.
$94,375±$22kLowest
17% above U.S.
Ripton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$394,400±$61kLowest
19% above U.S.
$431,300±$40k
30% above U.S.
$546,500±$60kHighest
64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,125±$789Highest
20% below U.S.
$1,103±$76Lowest
22% below U.S.
Strafford and Wolfeboro 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.
$7,149Highest
129% above U.S.
$4,531Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±48
U.S.: 51.1%
12%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton and Strafford 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%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minHighest
9% below U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
24 min
10% below U.S.
Work from home
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
16.1%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Wolfeboro and Ripton 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 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Strafford School District 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.