Compare towns
Fryeburg vs Ossipee vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fryeburg has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Ossipee has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Wolfeboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Fryeburg | Ossipee | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,489Lowest |
4,521 |
6,571Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.3±3.4 37% above U.S. |
50±4.6Lowest 29% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Ossipee and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest 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+ | 24.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $56,076±$15kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above 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 | $268,600±$30kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $893±$85Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,928Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
$4,531Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Fryeburg 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 | #103 of 133 in ME | #100 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 72/MSAD 72 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.