Compare towns
Ossipee vs Exeter vs Wolfeboro vs Freedom
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 affordable homes ($326k median).
Exeter has the highest household income ($110k).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Freedom has the most homeowners (91%).
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 | Exeter | Wolfeboro | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,521 |
16,151Highest |
6,571 |
1,494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50±4.6 15% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
57±1.8 32% above NH |
60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH |
| Freedom 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% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Ossipee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Freedom 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% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
39.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter 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 |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$66,136±$14kLowest 33% below NH |
| Exeter 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 |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$389,000±$43k 3% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,601±$245 7% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
— |
| Exeter and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401 34% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
$3,478Lowest 48% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±16.3 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Freedom and Ossipee 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% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.5%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Freedom School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.