What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).

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.

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

Measure	Rowley	Wolfeboro
People
Population	6,251Lowest	6,571Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50±6.3Lowest 29% above U.S.	57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S.
	Wolfeboro and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%	13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Rowley and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	45%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Rowley and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$132,734±$32kHighest 64% above U.S.	$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S.
	Rowley and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$667,300±$52kHighest 101% above U.S.	$546,500±$60kLowest 64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,603±$520Highest 13% above U.S.	$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Rowley and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,309Highest 166% above U.S.	$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.7%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 7% above U.S.	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	11.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#214 of 282 in MA	#46 of 120 in NH
School district	Triton	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school 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

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.