Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Center Harbor 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
Wolfeboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Center Harbor has the most homeowners (91%).
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 | Center Harbor | Ossipee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,571Highest |
955Lowest |
4,521 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57±1.8 32% above NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
50±4.6Lowest 15% above NH |
| Center Harbor 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 NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Ossipee and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45% NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7Highest 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 | $94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$104,313±$16kHighest 5% above NH |
$90,521±$22kLowest 9% below NH |
| Center Harbor and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
$325,500±$23kLowest 19% below NH |
| Wolfeboro and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
— | $1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531 32% below NH |
$4,667Highest 30% below NH |
$4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4 NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #46 of 120 in NH | — | #100 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school 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.