Compare towns
Ossipee vs Wolfeboro vs Wakefield
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).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Wakefield has the most homeowners (96.8%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,521Lowest |
6,571Highest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+2.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50±4.6 15% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
49.4±4.1Lowest 14% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Ossipee and Wakefield 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest 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% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$100,976±$11kHighest about the NH average |
| Wakefield 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 19% below NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,375±$434 8% below NH |
| Ossipee and Wakefield 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 |
$4,531Highest 32% below NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 8.1% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Wakefield 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 | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| 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.