Compare towns
Benson vs Ossipee vs Wolfeboro vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ossipee has the most homeowners (82%).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
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 | Benson | Ossipee | Wolfeboro | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
4,521 |
6,571Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
50±4.6 29% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
$4,531Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 min 27% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Benson 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 | — | #100 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.