What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).

Center Harbor has the most expensive homes ($464k 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	Wilder	Center Harbor
People
Population	3,087Highest	955Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.5±8.9Lowest 17% above U.S.	60.4±4.8Highest 55% above U.S.
Kids under 18	11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	11.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Center Harbor and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.3%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	39.5%±13.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Center Harbor and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	47.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S.	$104,313±$16kHighest 29% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S.	$463,800±$74kHighest 39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,142±$451 19% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,505Highest 76% above U.S.	$4,667Lowest 50% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.9%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	14.3%±59.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wilder and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 37% below U.S.	25 minHighest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	12.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wilder and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.