Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Sheldon 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Ossipee has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
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 | Sheldon | Ossipee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,571Highest |
2,267Lowest |
4,521 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
50±4.6 29% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ossipee and Wolfeboro 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. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
| 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 64% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Ossipee and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Sheldon 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 |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | 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 |
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.