What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wolfeboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).

Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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	Chester
People
Population	6,571Highest	2,992Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S.	49.7±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S.
Kids under 18	13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	14.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Chester 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%	29.8%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wolfeboro and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chester 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±$22kHighest 17% above U.S.	$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S.	$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,103±$76Highest 22% below U.S.	$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,531Highest 45% above U.S.	$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	12%±11.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wolfeboro and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wolfeboro and Chester 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	#46 of 120 in NH	#49 of 70 in VT
School district	Governor Wentworth Regional School District	Green Mountain Unified School District #77
High school in town	Kingswood Regional High School	Green Mountain Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	8.7Lowest
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.