What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Fairhaven has the most kids (16.9% under 18).

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	Fairhaven
People
Population	6,571Lowest	15,903Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S.	48.5±3.4Lowest 25% above U.S.
Kids under 18	13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.9%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Fairhaven 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%	24.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	32.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Fairhaven 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.	$95,965±$19kHighest 19% above U.S.
	Fairhaven 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.	$446,700±$19kLowest 34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,118±$79Highest 21% below U.S.
	Fairhaven and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,531Highest 45% above U.S.	$3,566Lowest 14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.1%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#46 of 120 in NH	#126 of 282 in MA
School district	Governor Wentworth Regional School District	Fairhaven
High school in town	Kingswood Regional High School	Fairhaven High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	11.4Highest
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.