Compare towns
Ossipee vs Cherryfield vs Wolfeboro vs Effingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cherryfield has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k 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 | Cherryfield | Wolfeboro | Effingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,521 |
809Lowest |
6,571Highest |
1,912 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±4.6 29% above U.S. |
58.1±4.2Highest 49% above U.S. |
57±1.8 47% above U.S. |
46.9±12.4Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Cherryfield 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% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.3%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
32.4%±9.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$22k 12% above U.S. |
$37,115±$17kLowest 54% below U.S. |
$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$76,607±$14k 5% 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 |
$195,800±$53kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$322,700±$30k 3% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
$428±$107Lowest 70% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,090±$121 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401 41% above U.S. |
$1,950Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.5%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.6%±40.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee and Cherryfield 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% |
26.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 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. |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Cherryfield 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 | Cherryfield Public Schools | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional 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 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.