Compare towns
Effingham vs Wolfeboro vs Ossipee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Ossipee has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
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 | Effingham | Wolfeboro | Ossipee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,912Lowest |
6,571Highest |
4,521 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
50±4.6 15% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
24.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Ossipee and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,607±$14kLowest 23% below NH |
$94,375±$22kHighest 5% below NH |
$90,521±$22k 9% below NH |
| Wolfeboro and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,700±$30kLowest 20% below NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$325,500±$23k 19% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,103±$76 26% below NH |
$1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 23% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
$4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 18% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Effingham 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 | #100 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.