Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Windham vs Hanover 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 oldest population (median age 57).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Ossipee has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Windham | Hanover | Ossipee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,571 |
16,038Highest |
8,479 |
4,521Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
50±4.6 15% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 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% NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$90,521±$22kLowest 9% below NH |
| Windham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
$723,300±$50k 80% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$325,500±$23kLowest 19% below NH |
| Hanover and Windham 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 |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$2,254±$249 51% above NH |
$1,601±$245 7% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531 32% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #100 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Windham School District | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Windham High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.