Compare towns
Brooks vs Ossipee vs Jackson vs Waldo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooks has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Ossipee has the most expensive homes ($326k median).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Waldo has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Brooks | Ossipee | Jackson | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
4,521Highest |
567Lowest |
926 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 18% above U.S. |
50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S. |
37.7±5.8 3% below U.S. |
37.5±9.6Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Ossipee and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waldo and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ossipee and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooks and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,130±$10kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$90,521±$22kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$75,167±$19k 7% below U.S. |
$71,458±$21k 11% below U.S. |
| Ossipee and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,700±$33kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$325,500±$23kHighest about the U.S. average |
$231,500±$16k 30% below U.S. |
$208,000±$41k 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,116±$112 21% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
$629±$12Lowest 55% below U.S. |
$1,150±$691 19% below U.S. |
| Ossipee and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096 33% below U.S. |
$4,401Highest 41% above U.S. |
$2,651 15% below U.S. |
$1,623Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.1%±36.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waldo and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
33 min 27% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.3%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waldo and Jackson 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 | — | — |
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | — | Waldo-Region 7 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.