Compare towns

Ripton vs Wolfeboro vs Strafford

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

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.

MeasureRiptonWolfeboroStrafford
People
Population
508Lowest
6,571Highest
1,372
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.7±14.2Lowest
23% above U.S.
57±1.8Highest
47% above U.S.
51.4±4.7
32% 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%
13.7%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
23%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
30.5%±7.1
U.S.: 17.2%
34.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±3.4Lowest
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%
45%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$94,375±$22kLowest
17% above U.S.
$110,833±$19k
37% 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.
$546,500±$60kHighest
64% above U.S.
$431,300±$40k
30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,103±$76Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,125±$789Highest
20% 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.
$4,531Lowest
45% above U.S.
$7,149Highest
129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
12%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±48
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%
8.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minHighest
9% below U.S.
24 min
10% below U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
Work from home
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.1%±4.3Lowest
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 Governor Wentworth Regional School District Strafford School District
High school 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

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.