Compare towns
Ossipee vs Hooksett 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).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
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 | Hooksett | Effingham | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,521 |
15,057Highest |
1,912Lowest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50±4.6 15% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
46.9±12.4 8% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±2.5 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% |
39.6% 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% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,521±$22k 9% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$76,607±$14kLowest 23% below NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Hooksett 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 |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$322,700±$30kLowest 20% below NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,601±$245 7% above NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,103±$76 26% below NH |
| Hooksett 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 |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
$5,163 23% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Hooksett 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1988Highest 9 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 |
27 min about the NH average |
32 min 18% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
16.1%±4.2 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | — | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Hooksett School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None 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 Our Story | 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.