What stands out worked out from the figures below

Weare has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).

Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k 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	Weare	Orford
People
Population	9,170Highest	1,295Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.5%Highest NH: +4.6%	0%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.6±4Lowest 5% above NH	48.9±3.3Highest 13% above NH
	Orford and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2%	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1%	25.5%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	44%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%	5%±2.1Highest NH: 6%
	Orford and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$118,271±$17kHighest 19% above NH	$92,571±$24kLowest 7% below NH
	Weare and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$396,300±$26kHighest about the NH average	$271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,541±$214Highest 3% above NH	$1,263±$686Lowest 15% below NH
	Weare and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,272Highest 6% below NH	$5,836Lowest 12% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2%	37.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Weare and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	5.8%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	75.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH	1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 34% above NH	26 minLowest 4% below NH
Work from home	22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8%	10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#84 of 120 in NH	—
School district	John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District	Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town	John Stark Regional High School	Rivendell Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	9.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH 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.