What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).

Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).

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	Stoneham
People
Population	6,571Lowest	23,355Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S.	42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S.
Kids under 18	13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Stoneham 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.	$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S.
	Stoneham 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±$60kLowest 64% above U.S.	$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S.	$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S.	$6,523Highest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	41.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	22.9%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stoneham and Wolfeboro 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	#117 of 282 in MA
School district	Governor Wentworth Regional School District	Stoneham
High school in town	Kingswood Regional High School	Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	10.7Lowest
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.