What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).

Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k 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	Wolfeboro	Barre
People
Population	6,571Highest	5,572Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S.	43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S.
Kids under 18	13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	15.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Barre and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Barre and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S.	$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S.
	Barre and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S.	$394,300±$55kLowest 19% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,103±$76Highest 22% below U.S.	$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S.
	Wolfeboro and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S.	$5,163Highest 66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	38.2%±27.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Barre and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2% U.S.: 12.5%	8.2% U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.
Work from home	22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#46 of 120 in NH	#134 of 282 in MA
School district	Governor Wentworth Regional School District	Quabbin
High school in town	Kingswood Regional High School	Quabbin Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	12.9Highest
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.