Compare towns
Wayne vs Jaffrey vs Islesboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Jaffrey has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Islesboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3%).
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 | Wayne | Jaffrey | Islesboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,101 |
5,448Highest |
636Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3 43% above U.S. |
42.9±3.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
57±8.4Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Islesboro and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
40.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Islesboro and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,194±$26kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$92,330±$18k 14% above U.S. |
$88,438±$44kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,800±$29kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$245,500±$27kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$288,800±$140k 13% below U.S. |
| Wayne and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$554Highest 30% below U.S. |
$962±$202 32% below U.S. |
$938±$252Lowest 34% below U.S. |
| Wayne and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$6,196Highest 99% above U.S. |
$4,300 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±23Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±85.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jaffrey and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
8 minLowest 71% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne and Islesboro 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 | — | #87 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Conant Middle High School (H) | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 21.3 |
— |
| 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.