Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Salem vs Kingston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Kingston has the most renters (25.6% rent).
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.
| Measure | Wolfeboro | Salem | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,571 |
30,964Highest |
6,275Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
44.6±2.7Lowest 3% above NH |
55.5±5.7 28% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Salem 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 NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Kingston 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% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Salem and Kingston 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 5% below NH |
$110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
| Salem and Kingston 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 |
$473,300±$16kLowest 18% above NH |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Kingston 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 |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
| Salem and Kingston 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 |
$6,992 5% above NH |
$7,906Highest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Kingston and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Salem 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Salem School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Salem High School | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.2 |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.