Compare towns
Sanbornton vs Wolfeboro vs Northwood
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sanbornton has the youngest population (median age 41.9).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
Northwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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.
| Measure | Sanbornton | Wolfeboro | Northwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,053Lowest |
6,571Highest |
4,688 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±5.4Lowest 3% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
42.4±7.8 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Sanbornton and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.7% NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Highest NH: 6% |
| Northwood and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$41k 15% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$129,375±$23kHighest 31% above NH |
| Northwood and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $452,300±$30k 12% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$363,000±$13kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,289±$198Highest 14% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,201±$372 19% below NH |
| Sanbornton and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,731 14% below NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$5,806Highest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.3%±23.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Sanbornton and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
89%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.8%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Northwood 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 | #42 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH | #24 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.