What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Rockland has the most affordable homes ($246k 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	Rockland
People
Population	6,571Lowest	7,035Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S.	49.3±6Lowest 27% above U.S.
	Wolfeboro and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	15.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Rockland 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%	25.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wolfeboro and Rockland 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%	35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wolfeboro and Rockland 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.	$56,533±$6kLowest 30% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S.	$245,800±$38kLowest 26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,103±$76Highest 22% below U.S.	$1,092±$105Lowest 23% below U.S.
	Wolfeboro and Rockland 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.	$4,059Lowest 30% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.6%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	62%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1948Lowest 32 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 10% below U.S.	12 minLowest 53% below U.S.
Work from home	22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	22.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wolfeboro and Rockland 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	#96 of 133 in ME
School district	Governor Wentworth Regional School District	Rockland-Region 8 · RSU 13
High school in town	Kingswood Regional High School	Oceanside 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.