Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Braintree vs Castleton vs Ossipee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wolfeboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Ossipee has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
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 | Wolfeboro | Braintree | Castleton | Ossipee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,571Highest |
1,026Lowest |
4,453 |
4,521 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57±1.8 47% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
50±4.6 29% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ossipee and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Braintree 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #100 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.