What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

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.

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

Measure	Rochester	Wolfeboro
People
Population	33,144Highest	6,571Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43±1.8Lowest about the NH average	57±1.8Highest 32% above NH
Kids under 18	18.2%±1.7Highest NH: 18.2%	13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Rochester and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1%	34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	45%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Highest NH: 6%	2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%
	Rochester and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH	$94,375±$22kHighest 5% below NH
	Wolfeboro and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH	$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,369±$72Highest 8% below NH	$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,334Highest 20% below NH	$4,531Lowest 32% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±7Highest NH: 48.2%	12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	8.3%Highest NH: 7.2%	8.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66%Lowest NH: 72.8%	78.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the NH average	24 minLowest 11% below NH
Work from home	11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#98 of 120 in NH	#46 of 120 in NH
School district	Rochester School District	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	Spaulding High School	Kingswood Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.2Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH 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.