What stands out worked out from the figures below

Woodsville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.1%).

Ryegate has the most people working from home (8.2%).

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	Woodsville	Ryegate
People
Population	1,422Highest	1,059Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+27.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	32±10.4Lowest 18% below U.S.	41.2±2.6Highest 6% above U.S.
	Ryegate and Woodsville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.8%±10.5Highest U.S.: 22%	23.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Woodsville and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	12.3%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.8%±10Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Woodsville and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,946±$27kLowest 28% below U.S.	$66,484±$15kHighest 18% below U.S.
	Ryegate and Woodsville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$228,000±$15kHighest 31% below U.S.	$219,300±$32kLowest 34% below U.S.
	Woodsville and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,119±$68Highest 21% below U.S.	$908±$236Lowest 36% below U.S.
	Woodsville and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,425Highest 42% above U.S.	$3,472Lowest 11% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.5%±29.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	55.9%±29.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Woodsville and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	40.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1949Highest 31 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 50% above U.S.	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	3.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	8.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ryegate and Woodsville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.