Compare towns
Madison vs Ossipee vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Ossipee has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Madison | Ossipee | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680Lowest |
4,521 |
6,571Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7 16% above NH |
50±4.6Lowest 15% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madison and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest 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+ | 37.9% NH: 40.6% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 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 | $102,697±$11kHighest 4% above NH |
$90,521±$22kLowest 9% below NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Madison and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,700±$36k 3% below NH |
$325,500±$23kLowest 19% below NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,556±$256 4% above NH |
$1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Ossipee and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
$4,401 34% below NH |
$4,531Highest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46 NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #100 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Madison School District | 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 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.