Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Salem 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%).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Ossipee has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
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 | Salem | Ossipee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,571 |
30,964Highest |
4,521Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
44.6±2.7Lowest 3% above NH |
50±4.6 15% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Ossipee and Salem 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% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Salem 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±$22k 5% below NH |
$110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$90,521±$22kLowest 9% below NH |
| Salem 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 36% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$325,500±$23kLowest 19% below NH |
| Wolfeboro and Salem 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 |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
$1,601±$245 7% above NH |
| Salem and Ossipee 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 |
$6,992Highest 5% above NH |
$4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Salem 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #100 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Salem School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Salem High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.2Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.