Compare towns
Ossipee vs Nelson 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 most affordable homes ($326k median).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Wolfeboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Nelson | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,521 |
648Lowest |
6,571Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50±4.6 15% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Ossipee 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% |
24.8%±2Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Ossipee and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,521±$22kLowest 9% below NH |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Nelson 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 |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
$1,203±$243 19% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Ossipee and Nelson 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 |
$5,575Highest 16% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Nelson 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Nelson School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school 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 |
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.