What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whitefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).

Orford has the most people working from home (10.8%).

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	Whitefield	Orford
People
Population	2,516Highest	1,295Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest NH: +4.6%	0%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	51.4±4.6Highest 19% above NH	48.9±3.3Lowest 13% above NH
	Whitefield and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.3%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2%	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Whitefield and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.6%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1%	25.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Whitefield and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	44%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±3.2Highest NH: 6%	5%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Whitefield and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,125±$12kLowest 36% below NH	$92,571±$24kHighest 7% below NH
	Orford and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$240,400±$22kLowest 40% below NH	$271,900±$25kHighest 32% below NH
	Orford and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,077±$160Lowest 28% below NH	$1,263±$686Highest 15% below NH
	Orford and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,394Lowest 34% below NH	$5,836Highest 12% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.9%±15.6Highest NH: 48.2%	37.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Whitefield and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11%Highest NH: 7.2%	5.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	75.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 14 yrs older than NH	1971Highest 8 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the NH average	26 minLowest 4% below NH
Work from home	7.2%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8%	10.8%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8%
	Orford and Whitefield 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	#86 of 120 in NH	—
School district	White Mountains Regional School District	Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town	White Mountains Regional High School	Rivendell Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	7.9Lowest	9.5Highest
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.