Compare towns
Ossipee vs Dresden 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).
Dresden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Dresden | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,521 |
1,645Lowest |
6,571Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±4.6Lowest 29% above U.S. |
55.1±7.9 42% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Dresden 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% |
17%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ossipee and Dresden 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% |
24.8%±8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dresden and Ossipee 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. |
$74,844±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above 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 |
$240,100±$29kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,194±$502 15% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Ossipee and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401 41% above U.S. |
$2,500Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$4,531Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | RSU 02 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school 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 |
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.