Compare towns
Ossipee vs Hardwick vs Ware 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
Ossipee has the highest household income ($91k).
Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | Hardwick | Ware | Effingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,521 |
2,684 |
6,369Highest |
1,912Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.9±12.4 21% above U.S. |
| Ossipee and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ossipee and Hardwick 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% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,521±$22kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$76,607±$14k 5% below U.S. |
| Ossipee and Effingham 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 |
$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$253,400±$31kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$322,700±$30k 3% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,039±$104Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,090±$121 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401 41% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee and Ware 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% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Effingham 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Quabbin | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.