What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).

Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).

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	Wakefield	Wolfeboro
People
Population	27,793Highest	6,571Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S.	57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%	13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	45%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wakefield and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S.	$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S.	$546,500±$60kLowest 64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S.	$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,779Highest 149% above U.S.	$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.7%±7.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 26% above U.S.	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	22.9%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wakefield and Wolfeboro 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	#179 of 282 in MA	#46 of 120 in NH
School district	Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	Northeast Metro Regional Vocational	Kingswood Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	11.1Highest
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.