What stands out worked out from the figures below

Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k median).

Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).

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	Washburn	Wolfeboro
People
Population	1,355Lowest	6,571Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.2±7.7Lowest 24% above U.S.	57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S.
	Wolfeboro and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	24%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	45%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Washburn and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,196±$6kLowest 30% below U.S.	$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$112,900±$14kLowest 66% below U.S.	$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$482±$62Lowest 66% below U.S.	$1,103±$76Highest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,571Lowest 50% below U.S.	$4,531Highest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Washburn and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 21% below U.S.	24 minHighest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	9.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#46 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 45/MSAD 45	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	Washburn District High School	Kingswood Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Highest	11.1Lowest
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.