What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).

Orono has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).

Orono is a college town. 56.1% 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	Orono
People
Population	6,571Lowest	11,902Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S.	21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S.
Kids under 18	13.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%	6.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	66.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	56.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S.	$61,528±$5kLowest 24% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S.	$272,600±$40kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,255±$112Highest 11% below U.S.
	Orono and Wolfeboro 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.	$4,830Highest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	58.1%±10.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	24.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	46.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 10% below U.S.	15 minLowest 42% below U.S.
Work from home	22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#46 of 120 in NH	#26 of 133 in ME
School district	Governor Wentworth Regional School District	RSU 26
High school in town	Kingswood Regional High School	Orono High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.