Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Middlesex vs Putney 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 expensive homes ($547k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Putney | Ossipee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,571Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,622 |
4,521 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
50±4.6 29% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% 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%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Ossipee and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531 45% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee and Putney 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Wolfeboro 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #100 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 Our Story | 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.