Compare towns
Ossipee vs Wayne vs Effingham 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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 | Wayne | Effingham | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,521 |
1,101Lowest |
1,912 |
6,571Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±4.6 29% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3 43% above U.S. |
46.9±12.4Lowest 21% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Wayne 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% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.3%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Wayne 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% |
48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne 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±$22k 12% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$76,607±$14kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Wayne 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 |
$362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
$322,700±$30kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,090±$121 23% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401 41% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.6%±40.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne 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 | RSU 38 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None 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 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.