Compare towns
Webster vs Wakefield vs Ossipee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Ossipee has the most renters (18% rent).
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 | Webster | Wakefield | Ossipee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227Lowest |
5,405Highest |
4,521 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% NH: +4.6% |
+2.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6Lowest 3% above NH |
49.4±4.1 14% above NH |
50±4.6Highest 15% above NH |
| Ossipee and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±8Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Webster and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Ossipee and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.2% NH: 40.6% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Webster and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,171±$14kHighest 8% above NH |
$100,976±$11k about the NH average |
$90,521±$22kLowest 9% below NH |
| Webster and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,500±$30kHighest 16% below NH |
$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH |
$325,500±$23k 19% below NH |
| Webster and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,396±$622 6% below NH |
$1,375±$434Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
| Ossipee and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,021Highest 10% below NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
$4,401 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71 NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 14% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Webster 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 |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Wakefield School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.