Compare towns
Loudon vs Strafford 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
Loudon has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Strafford has the most people working from home (15.9%).
Ossipee has the most kids (19.5% 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 | Loudon | Strafford | Ossipee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,692Highest |
4,306Lowest |
4,521 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±3.2 14% above NH |
46.3±2.1Lowest 7% above NH |
50±4.6Highest 15% above NH |
| Ossipee and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Ossipee and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Ossipee and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.3% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,966±$16k 8% above NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$90,521±$22kLowest 9% below NH |
| Strafford and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,400±$48k 10% below NH |
$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
$325,500±$23kLowest 19% below NH |
| Strafford and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$465Lowest 11% below NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,601±$245 7% above NH |
| Strafford and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,821 13% below NH |
$6,086Highest 9% below NH |
$4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±30.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 14% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 8.9%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Strafford and Loudon 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 | #99 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH | #100 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Strafford School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.