What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ossipee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).

Putnam has the most people working from home (8.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ossipee	Putnam
People
Population	4,521Highest	540Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50±4.6Lowest 29% above U.S.	53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S.
	Putnam and Ossipee 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%	17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ossipee and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Putnam 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 U.S.: 35.7%	31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ossipee and Putnam 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 12% above U.S.	$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S.
	Putnam 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±$23kHighest about the U.S. average	$266,200±$48kLowest 20% below U.S.
	Ossipee and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,601±$245 13% above U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,401Highest 41% above U.S.	$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ossipee and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 27% above U.S.	21 minLowest 19% below U.S.
Work from home	5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	8.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Putnam and Ossipee 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	—
School district	Governor Wentworth Regional School District	PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.