Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Hanover vs Stratham 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 the oldest population (median age 57).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Ossipee has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Stratham | Ossipee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,571 |
8,479Highest |
7,754 |
4,521Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
50±4.6 15% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$90,521±$22kLowest 9% below NH |
| Hanover and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$325,500±$23kLowest 19% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,254±$249 51% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,601±$245 7% above NH |
| Stratham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531 32% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Stratham 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #100 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.