Compare towns

Wolfeboro vs Danvers vs Ossipee vs Meredith

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 the shortest commute (24 min average).
Danvers has the highest household income ($125k).
Ossipee has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).

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.

MeasureWolfeboroDanversOssipeeMeredith
People
Population
6,571
28,098Highest
4,521Lowest
6,758
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
57±1.8Highest
47% above U.S.
45.3±3Lowest
16% above U.S.
50±4.6
29% above U.S.
55.5±3.7
43% above U.S.
Wolfeboro and Meredith 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%
17.2%±2
U.S.: 22%
19.5%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Ossipee and Danvers 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%
22.6%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.3%±5.9
U.S.: 17.2%
34.2%±5
U.S.: 17.2%
Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
24.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Danvers and Ossipee 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
17% above U.S.
$125,395±$10kHighest
55% above U.S.
$90,521±$22k
12% above U.S.
$87,019±$19kLowest
8% above U.S.
Danvers 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±$60k
64% above U.S.
$644,200±$23kHighest
94% above U.S.
$325,500±$23kLowest
about the U.S. average
$480,100±$48k
44% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,103±$76Lowest
22% below U.S.
$2,076±$192Highest
47% above U.S.
$1,601±$245
13% above U.S.
$1,149±$304
19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,531
45% above U.S.
$6,654Highest
113% above U.S.
$4,401Lowest
41% above U.S.
$5,006
61% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
12%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.8%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
72%±16.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Ossipee and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
28 min
8% above U.S.
33 minHighest
27% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
22.9%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
5.3%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Meredith and Wolfeboro 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 #91 of 282 in MA #100 of 120 in NH #62 of 120 in NH
School district Governor Wentworth Regional School District Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Governor Wentworth Regional School District Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District
High school in town Kingswood Regional High School Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School None in town Inter-Lakes High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Lowest
12.8Highest
—
11.1Lowest
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.