Compare towns
Exeter vs Ossipee vs Wolfeboro vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Ossipee has the youngest population (median age 50).
Wolfeboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Lee has the most kids (21.8% 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 | Exeter | Ossipee | Wolfeboro | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,093 |
4,521 |
6,571Highest |
925Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7 35% above U.S. |
50±4.6Lowest 29% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
51.5±11.5 32% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 15% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,408±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$49,886±$5kLowest 38% 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 | $166,700±$39kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$174,500±$25k 48% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $995±$386Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,602 49% below U.S. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
$4,531Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,547Lowest 50% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
80%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
33 min 27% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Lee 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 | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | RSU 30/MSAD 30 |
| 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 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.