Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Ware vs Meredith 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).
Ware has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Ossipee has the most homeowners (82%).
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 | Ware | Meredith | Ossipee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,571 |
10,048Highest |
6,758 |
4,521Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
50±4.6 29% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ossipee and Ware 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%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware and Meredith 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. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$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. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
| 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±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
| 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 45% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee and Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #62 of 120 in NH | #100 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Ware | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.1 |
11.1 |
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| 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.