What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ossipee has the most kids (19.5% under 18).

Benton has the oldest population (median age 62.1).

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	Ossipee	Benton
People
Population	4,521Highest	386Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6% NH: +4.6%	—
Median age	50±4.6Lowest 15% above NH	62.1±1.9Highest 43% above NH
Kids under 18	19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2%	6.7%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	26.3%±5.9Lowest NH: 20.1%	37.3%±12.5Highest NH: 20.1%
	Benton and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.8%Highest NH: 40.6%	18.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6%	1.8%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%
	Ossipee and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,521±$22kHighest 9% below NH	$67,895±$4kLowest 31% below NH
	Ossipee and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$325,500±$23kHighest 19% below NH	$288,300±$46kLowest 28% below NH
	Ossipee and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,601±$245 7% above NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,401Highest 34% below NH	$2,922Lowest 56% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72%±16.3Lowest NH: 48.2%	100%±100Highest NH: 48.2%
	Benton and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%	15.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Lowest NH: 72.8%	92.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest same as NH	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above NH	32 minLowest 20% above NH
Work from home	5.3%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8%	2.6%±3.4Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Ossipee and Benton 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	Governor Wentworth Regional School District	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.