What stands out worked out from the figures below

Tuftonboro has the most expensive homes ($462k median).

Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).

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.

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

Measure	Tuftonboro	Middlesex
People
Population	2,569Highest	1,943Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.9±7.5Highest 33% above U.S.	44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Tuftonboro and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Middlesex and Tuftonboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.8%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Tuftonboro and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,574±$16kLowest 25% above U.S.	$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S.
	Middlesex and Tuftonboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$462,300±$46kHighest 39% above U.S.	$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,311±$358Lowest 7% below U.S.	$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S.
	Middlesex and Tuftonboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,004Lowest 4% below U.S.	$6,483Highest 108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	6.5%±28.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Tuftonboro and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.	27 minLowest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	14.3%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Middlesex and Tuftonboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Governor Wentworth Regional School District	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.