Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Lebanon vs Jackson 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 most people working from home (22.9%).
Lebanon has the most renters (48.8% rent).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
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 | Lebanon | Jackson | Ossipee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,571 |
14,999Highest |
897Lowest |
4,521 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57±1.8 32% above NH |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
50±4.6 15% above NH |
| Jackson 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% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Ossipee and Lebanon 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% |
21.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±6.4 NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Jackson 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% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Jackson 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 |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$117,986±$46kHighest 19% above NH |
$90,521±$22kLowest 9% below NH |
| Jackson and Lebanon 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 |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
$325,500±$23kLowest 19% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
$1,601±$245 7% above NH |
| Jackson and Lebanon 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 |
$8,149Highest 22% above NH |
$6,001 10% below NH |
$4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9 NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 8.2% NH: 7.2% |
7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
19 min 31% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2 NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | — | #100 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Lebanon School District | Jackson School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Lebanon High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.7Highest |
— | — |
| 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.