Compare towns
Ossipee vs Meredith 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
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
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 | Meredith | Effingham | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,521 |
6,758Highest |
1,912Lowest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50±4.6 15% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith 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% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith 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% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Highest 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 |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$76,607±$14kLowest 23% below NH |
$94,375±$22kHighest 5% below NH |
| 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 19% below NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$322,700±$30kLowest 20% below NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,103±$76 26% below NH |
| Ossipee and Meredith 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 |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$5,163Highest 23% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Meredith 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% |
7.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
26 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% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.1%±4.2 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | — | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | 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.