Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Ossipee vs Brookfield vs Meredith
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 expensive homes ($547k median).
Ossipee has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Brookfield has the most homeowners (98.4%).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Ossipee | Brookfield | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,571 |
4,521 |
567Lowest |
6,758Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57±1.8 32% above NH |
50±4.6Lowest 15% above NH |
58.1±9.7Highest 34% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
| Brookfield 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% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
8.6%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Ossipee and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
38.4%±3.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
| Brookfield and Wolfeboro 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% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
36.8% NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.5%±5Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Brookfield 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 5% below NH |
$90,521±$22k 9% below NH |
$81,406±$31kLowest 18% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
| 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 36% above NH |
$325,500±$23kLowest 19% below NH |
$428,000±$61k 6% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
— | $1,149±$304 23% below NH |
| Ossipee and Meredith 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 |
$4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
$5,926Highest 11% below NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
— | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
82% NH: 72.8% |
98.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.7%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | — | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — | 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.