Compare towns
Ossipee vs Epping vs Effingham 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Epping has the highest household income ($104k).
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
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 | Epping | Effingham | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,521 |
7,430Highest |
1,912Lowest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1% NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50±4.6 15% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
46.9±12.4 8% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Epping 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 9% below NH |
$104,220±$7kHighest 5% above NH |
$76,607±$14kLowest 23% below NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Epping 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 19% below NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$322,700±$30kLowest 20% below NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,601±$245 7% above NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,103±$76 26% below NH |
| Epping and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
$6,936Highest 4% above NH |
$5,163 23% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Epping 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
32 min 18% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.1%±4.2 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | — | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Epping School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.