What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rockland has the most affordable homes ($246k median).

Wolfeboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).

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	Rockland	Wolfeboro
People
Population	7,035Highest	6,571Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.3±6Lowest 27% above U.S.	57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S.
	Wolfeboro and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%	13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Rockland and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wolfeboro and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	45%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wolfeboro and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,533±$6kLowest 30% below U.S.	$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,800±$38kLowest 26% below U.S.	$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,092±$105Lowest 23% below U.S.	$1,103±$76Highest 22% below U.S.
	Wolfeboro and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,059Lowest 30% above U.S.	$4,531Highest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.6%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1948Lowest 32 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	12 minLowest 53% below U.S.	24 minHighest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	22.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wolfeboro and Rockland 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	#96 of 133 in ME	#46 of 120 in NH
School district	Rockland-Region 8 · RSU 13	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	Oceanside High School	Kingswood Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	11.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.