Compare towns
Ossipee vs Center Harbor vs Effingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ossipee has the most renters (18% rent).
Center Harbor has the most expensive homes ($464k median).
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
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 | Center Harbor | Effingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,521Highest |
955Lowest |
1,912 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50±4.6 15% above NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor 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% NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8 NH: 6% |
| Ossipee and Effingham 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 9% below NH |
$104,313±$16kHighest 5% above NH |
$76,607±$14kLowest 23% below NH |
| Center Harbor 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 19% below NH |
$463,800±$74kHighest 15% above NH |
$322,700±$30kLowest 20% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
— | $1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
$4,667 30% below NH |
$5,163Highest 23% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4 NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
32 min 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
16.1%±4.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Effingham and Center Harbor 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 | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school 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.