Compare towns
Ossipee vs Sunapee vs Wolfeboro vs Milton
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 kids (19.5% under 18).
Sunapee has the highest household income ($101k).
Wolfeboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Milton has the youngest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Sunapee | Wolfeboro | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,521 |
3,416Lowest |
6,571Highest |
4,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50±4.6 15% above NH |
56.7±1.4 31% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
45.7±2.4Lowest 6% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Sunapee 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% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| Ossipee and Milton 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% |
33.3%±7.1 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Sunapee 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% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Ossipee 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 |
$101,393±$20kHighest about the NH average |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$94,493±$27k 5% below NH |
| Sunapee and Milton 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 |
$393,000±$51k about the NH average |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$318,400±$34kLowest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,601±$245 7% above NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,587±$318 6% above NH |
| Sunapee and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401 34% below NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
$5,663Highest 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.7%±24.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Milton 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH | #116 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Sunapee School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Milton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Kingswood Regional High School | Nute High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
11.1 |
10.6Lowest |
| 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.