Compare towns
Wakefield vs Ossipee vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has the most homeowners (96.8%).
Ossipee has the most renters (18% rent).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Wakefield | Ossipee | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405 |
4,521Lowest |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1 14% above NH |
50±4.6Highest 15% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Ossipee and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Ossipee and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2% NH: 40.6% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,976±$11k about the NH average |
$90,521±$22kLowest 9% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH |
$325,500±$23k 19% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Ossipee and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
$4,401 34% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 7.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow 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 | #118 of 120 in NH | #100 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| 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.