What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).

Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Durham
People
Population	6,571Lowest	15,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	57±1.8Highest 32% above NH	20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH
Kids under 18	13.7%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2%	10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Wolfeboro and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1%	11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45%Lowest NH: 40.6%	75.4%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%	55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH	$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH
	Durham 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 36% above NH	$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH
	Wolfeboro and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH	$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,531Lowest 32% below NH	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	8.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%	15.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH	1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 11% below NH	19 minLowest 27% below NH
Work from home	22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8%	19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Wolfeboro and Durham 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	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	Governor Wentworth Regional School District	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	Kingswood Regional High School	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	51 photos →

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.