Center Harbor

Belknap County•Lakes Region•Population: 1,040

Overview

Center Harbor sits at the northern end of Lake Winnipesaukee in Belknap County, one of the smaller and quieter lake towns in the region. The town's compact village center overlooks the lake's Center Harbor Bay.

The lake's marina and town docks support boating, while Center Harbor's small downtown includes shops and restaurants catering to both residents and visitors. The town's proximity to Meredith and Moultonborough provides access to larger retail options.

Housing in Center Harbor ranges from village homes to lakefront properties, with prices reflecting demand for Winnipesaukee access in a quieter setting than Wolfeboro or Meredith.

Pros & Cons

✓ Pros

•Lake access
•Quiet village
•Scenic beauty
•Boating

✗ Cons

•Seasonal economy
•Limited services
•Small population

Cost of Owning Here

Official property tax rates published by the NH Department of Revenue Administration, plus estimated tax bills for Center Harbor.

2025 Local Tax Rate

$11.84

per $1,000 assessed value

2025 Effective (Equalized) Rate

$7.93

Equalization ratio: 67%

Municipal

$4.64

Local School

$4.63

State Education

$1.40

County

$1.17

Why "Effective Rate" is a better comparison

New Hampshire towns do not all assess property at the same percentage of market value. The state publishes an annual equalization ratio for every municipality showing how close local assessments are to full market value. A town that assesses homes at only 64% of market value will show an artificially high tax rate compared to a town that assesses at 100%. Multiplying the local rate by the equalization ratio produces an effective (equalized) rate that can be fairly compared across any two towns in the state.

Year	Total Rate	Effective Rate	Municipal	Local School	State Ed.	County
2025	$11.84	$7.93	$4.64	$4.63	$1.40	$1.17

Source: NH DRA

Example Tax Bills for 2025

Home Value	Estimated Annual Tax	Estimated Monthly
$250,000	$2,960	$247
$350,000	$4,144	$345
$500,000	$5,920	$493
$750,000	$8,880	$740
$1,000,000	$11,840	$987

Estimates calculated using the 2025 local tax rate of $11.84 per $1,000 of assessed value. Actual tax bills depend on your property's specific assessed value and any exemptions or credits you may qualify for.

Open Full Calculator →Compare With Other Towns →View Statewide Rankings →

Climate & Environment

Summer Avg High

76.6°F

Winter Avg High

32°F

Annual Snowfall

60.4 in

Annual Rainfall

48 in

Sunny Days/Year

257

Data source: Open-Meteo / ERA5 • Updated 7/3/2026

Transportation & Commute

Commute to Major Cities

Boston

115 mi

~144 min drive

Manchester

65 mi

~86 min drive

Portsmouth

67 mi

~121 min drive

Concord

47 mi

~66 min drive

Data source: OpenRouteService / OpenStreetMap • Updated 7/3/2026

Safety & Crime

Safety Score

9/10

Crime Rate

6.73/1,000

Crime Trend

stable

Data source: FBI Crime Data Explorer / NH Department of Safety UCR Reports • Updated 8/12/2026

Recreation & Outdoors

Outdoor Recreation Score

23/100

Trail Miles

16.0

Boat Launches

Winter & Camping

Snowmobile Trails:4 miles

XC Ski Trails:0 miles

Economy & Demographics

💰Income

Median Household Income

$100,192

Per Capita Income

$51,474

Median Family Income

$122,574

🏠Housing Costs

Median Home Value

$356,700

Median Rent

$987/mo

Homeownership Rate

85.94%

💼Employment

In Labor Force

427

Work From Home

0.47%

🎓Education

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

26.54%

Total with Degree

190

🚗Commute

Work From Home

0.47%

👥Demographics

Median Age

63.5 years

Avg Household Size

2.13 people

Data source: Census ACS 2022 (5-Year) • Census Data Year: 2022 • Updated 7/3/2026

Condo Communities in Center Harbor