Compare towns
Marlow vs Ossipee vs Lempster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Ossipee has the most renters (18% rent).
Lempster has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
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 | Marlow | Ossipee | Lempster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 855Lowest |
4,521Highest |
953 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
-3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7Highest 22% above NH |
50±4.6Lowest 15% above NH |
50.8±7.2 17% above NH |
| Marlow and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Marlow and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±5.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
25.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Marlow and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
28.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Lempster and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,455±$12kHighest 12% above NH |
$90,521±$22k 9% below NH |
$86,607±$12kLowest 13% below NH |
| Marlow and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,400±$49k 19% below NH |
$325,500±$23kHighest 19% below NH |
$241,900±$29kLowest 40% below NH |
| Ossipee and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$160Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,826Highest 13% below NH |
$4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
$4,558 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.2%±95.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3 NH: 48.2% |
100%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lempster and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
7.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
82%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
98.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above NH |
33 minLowest 25% above NH |
37 minHighest 40% above NH |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
5%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Ossipee and Lempster 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 | — |
| School district | Marlow School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Lempster 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.