Compare towns
Waltham vs Wolfeboro vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waltham has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Grafton has the most homeowners (89.9%).
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.
| Measure | Waltham | Wolfeboro | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 452Lowest |
6,571Highest |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
57±1.8Lowest 47% above U.S. |
59.2±4.4 52% above U.S. |
| Waltham and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±7.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wolfeboro and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,500±$14kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$76,111±$7kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Waltham and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,700±$51kLowest about the U.S. average |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$343,200±$85k 3% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$113Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,288±$174Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Grafton and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,714Highest 83% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,843 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±58.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±69.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Grafton and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Waltham 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Athens Grafton School District |
| High school in town | — | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.