Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Waterbury 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).
Waterbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
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 | Waterbury | Ossipee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,571Highest |
5,405 |
4,521Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50±4.6 29% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury 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% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest 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% |
54.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterbury 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 17% above U.S. |
$103,917±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$90,521±$22kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Waterbury 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. |
$447,200±$40k 34% above U.S. |
$325,500±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Wolfeboro and Waterbury 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. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531 45% above U.S. |
$6,435Highest 106% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterbury 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 | #20 of 70 in VT | #100 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | 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 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.