Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Jay 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 the most people working from home (22.9%).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
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 | Jay | Ossipee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,571Highest |
4,657 |
4,521Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
39.5±5.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
50±4.6 29% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ossipee and Jay 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% |
19.3%±4.7Lowest 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% |
29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Jay 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±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$70,238±$19kLowest 13% 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. |
$168,600±$27kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$759±$141Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531Highest 45% above U.S. |
$2,245Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±28.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee and Jay 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% |
9.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #46 of 120 in NH | #86 of 133 in ME | #100 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | RSU 73 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.7Highest |
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| 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.