Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Wilder vs Exeter vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Exeter has the most kids (17% under 18).
Brookfield has the most homeowners (98.4%).
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.
| Measure | Wolfeboro | Wilder | Exeter | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,571 |
3,087 |
16,151Highest |
567Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57±1.8 47% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
58.1±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
8.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
38.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$81,406±$31k about the U.S. average |
| Exeter 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±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$428,000±$61k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,926 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— |
| Exeter and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | — | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 59 photos → | 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.