RANK #267 / 1001 NAT · POP 51,804
1YR FORECAST: +0.8%
5YR OUTLOOK: +32%
Wolfeboro, known as the "Oldest Summer Resort in America," offers a glimpse into Carroll County, New Hampshire's appeal. Located in eastern New Hampshire, bordered by Lake Winnipesaukee to the southwest and the White Mountains to the northwest, the county provides a rural environment within a short drive of northern New England's urban centers. Commuting options within the county are primarily by car, though some volunteer and public transportation services exist for specific needs. The region is characterized by its natural beauty, with a quarter of the county lying within the White Mountain National Forest, and numerous lakes providing extensive outdoor recreation opportunities. Popular activities include skiing, hiking, biking, and swimming.
Life in Carroll County often attracts retirees and those seeking a connection to the outdoors. The economy is largely driven by tourism and recreation, particularly in towns like Conway and Wolfeboro. While the county has seen employment growth, many jobs are in the tourism industry. Healthcare and social assistance, along with retail trade and construction, are common employment sectors. The area has also experienced an increase in remote workers, contributing to population growth. Local schools, such as Tuftonboro Central School and Robert Frost Charter School, serve the community.
Carroll County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +1.1% YoY, population +1.1%, wages +3.0%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Speculative pricing
Housing looks overvalued at 18.9x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 73/100, Carroll County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +1.9%, and median household income stands at $86,463 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in NH.
Carroll County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $388,900 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.22 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,195/month on average.
Carroll County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +1.1% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.9% clip. Home values shifted +1.1% in the past year.
Not particularly — 1.36% of Carroll County's population moved in from another state, which is below the national average. Most residents are long-term locals rather than recent transplants.