Compare towns

Wolfeboro vs Fairhaven 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%).
Fairhaven has the most renters (25.6% rent).
Ossipee has the most affordable homes ($326k median).

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.

MeasureWolfeboroFairhavenOssipee
People
Population
6,571
15,903Highest
4,521Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
57±1.8Highest
47% above U.S.
48.5±3.4Lowest
25% above U.S.
50±4.6
29% above U.S.
Kids under 18
13.7%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
19.5%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Ossipee and Fairhaven 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%
24.9%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.3%±5.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Wolfeboro and Ossipee 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%
32.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
24.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Fairhaven 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.
$95,965±$19kHighest
19% above U.S.
$90,521±$22kLowest
12% above U.S.
Fairhaven 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
64% above U.S.
$446,700±$19k
34% above U.S.
$325,500±$23kLowest
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,103±$76Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,118±$79
21% below U.S.
$1,601±$245Highest
13% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,531Highest
45% above U.S.
$3,566Lowest
14% above U.S.
$4,401
41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
12%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.1%±14
U.S.: 51.1%
72%±16.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ossipee and Fairhaven 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%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
74.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
29 min
8% above U.S.
33 minHighest
27% above U.S.
Work from home
22.9%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.4%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
5.3%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #46 of 120 in NH #126 of 282 in MA #100 of 120 in NH
School district Governor Wentworth Regional School District Fairhaven Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town Kingswood Regional High School Fairhaven High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Lowest
11.4Highest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.