Compare towns
Ossipee vs Center Harbor vs Wolfeboro
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 kids (19.5% under 18).
Center Harbor has the most homeowners (91%).
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 | Center Harbor | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,521 |
955Lowest |
6,571Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50±4.6Lowest 15% above NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
57±1.8 32% above NH |
| Center Harbor 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 NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Ossipee and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.3%±5.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor 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 NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Ossipee and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,521±$22kLowest 9% below NH |
$104,313±$16kHighest 5% above NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Center Harbor 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±$23kLowest 19% below NH |
$463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
— | $1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
$4,667Highest 30% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest 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% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest 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 min 8% below NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.