What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has the most kids (17.6% under 18).

Wilton has the most renters (23% rent).

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	Strafford	Wilton
People
Population	4,306Highest	3,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6% NH: +4.6%	+6% NH: +4.6%
Median age	46.3±2.1Lowest 7% above NH	46.8±5.2Highest 8% above NH
	Wilton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.6%±3.5Highest NH: 18.2%	13.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Strafford and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1%	22%±6.3Highest NH: 20.1%
	Wilton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	36.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%	4.5%±2.4Lowest NH: 6%
	Strafford and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH	$114,349±$21kLowest 15% above NH
	Strafford and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH	$381,500±$23kLowest 5% below NH
	Strafford and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH	$1,382±$70Lowest 7% below NH
	Strafford and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,086Lowest 9% below NH	$7,612Highest 14% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2%	47.1%±39.9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Strafford and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Highest NH: 7.2%	3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	77%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH	1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 34% above NH	30 minLowest 12% above NH
Work from home	15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8%	16.7%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8%
	Wilton and Strafford 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	#73 of 120 in NH	#54 of 120 in NH
School district	Strafford School District	Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District
High school in town	None in town	Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.