What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k 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	Orford
People
Population	6,571Highest	1,295Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Highest NH: +4.6%	0%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	57±1.8Highest 32% above NH	48.9±3.3Lowest 13% above NH
Kids under 18	13.7%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2%	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Wolfeboro and Orford 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%	25.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Wolfeboro and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45%Highest NH: 40.6%	44%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%	5%±2.1Highest NH: 6%
	Orford 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 5% below NH	$92,571±$24kLowest 7% below NH
	Wolfeboro and Orford 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	$271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH	$1,263±$686Highest 15% below NH
	Orford and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,531Lowest 32% below NH	$5,836Highest 12% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	37.8%±10.7Highest NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	8.2%Highest NH: 7.2%	5.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	75.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH	1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below NH	26 minHighest 4% below NH
Work from home	22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8%	10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#46 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Governor Wentworth Regional School District	Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town	Kingswood Regional High School	Rivendell Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	9.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

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.