Compare towns
Ossipee vs Castleton vs Brookfield vs Wolfeboro
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).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Wolfeboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Castleton | Brookfield | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,521 |
4,453 |
1,486Lowest |
6,571Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±4.6 29% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
47±5.9 21% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ossipee and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Brookfield 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% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$98,500±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Wolfeboro 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$975±$306Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401 41% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,560Highest 46% above U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 27% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Wolfeboro 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None 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 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.