What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

Ossipee has the most affordable homes ($326k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Middleton	Ossipee
People
Population	9,816Highest	4,521Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±2Lowest 11% above U.S.	50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ossipee and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ossipee and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Middleton and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S.	$90,521±$22kLowest 12% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S.	$325,500±$23kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,407±$284Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S.
	Ossipee and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,785Highest 182% above U.S.	$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 14% above U.S.	33 minHighest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	12.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#71 of 282 in MA	#100 of 120 in NH
School district	Middleton	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.