Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Wilder vs Exeter 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).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Exeter has the highest household income ($110k).
Ossipee has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
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 | Wilder | Exeter | Ossipee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,571 |
3,087Lowest |
16,151Highest |
4,521 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
50±4.6 29% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ossipee and Exeter 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% |
27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Wilder 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% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Exeter 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. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,601±$245 13% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Ossipee 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. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee and Exeter 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% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% 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. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #100 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | — | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.