Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Mapleton vs Appleton 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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Mapleton | Appleton | Ossipee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,571Highest |
1,884 |
1,360Lowest |
4,521 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
50±4.6 29% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Appleton 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Mapleton 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Ossipee 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 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 | — | — | #100 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — | — |
| 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.