Compare towns
Ossipee vs Appleton vs Wolfeboro vs Freedom
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ossipee has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Freedom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | Ossipee | Appleton | Wolfeboro | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,521 |
1,360Lowest |
6,571Highest |
1,494 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±4.6 29% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
57±1.8 47% above U.S. |
60.6±3.2Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Freedom and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ossipee and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.3%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
40.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Freedom and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$66,136±$14k 18% below 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 | $325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$389,000±$43k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401 41% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,531Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,478Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±16.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
79.6%±75 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Freedom 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Appleton Public Schools | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Freedom School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.