Compare towns
Ossipee vs Petersham vs Ware vs Wolfeboro
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 most kids (19.5% under 18).
Petersham has the highest household income ($111k).
Ware has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
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 | Petersham | Ware | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,521 |
1,185Lowest |
10,048Highest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±4.6 29% above U.S. |
56.3±2.7 45% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Ossipee and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.3%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Petersham 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% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware and Petersham 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 12% above U.S. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Petersham 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 about the U.S. average |
$392,400±$20k 18% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,601±$245 13% above U.S. |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
| Petersham and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401 41% above U.S. |
$4,636Highest 49% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest 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% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 27% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Petersham 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Petersham | Ware | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
11.1 |
| 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.