Tuftonboro

Carroll County•Lakes Region•Population: 2,467

Retirees Privacy Seekers Second Home Buyers

Overview

Tuftonboro sits along the eastern shore of Lake Winnipesaukee in Carroll County, offering a quieter, less commercially developed lake-town alternative to nearby Wolfeboro. The town's rural roads and forested land keep much of it undeveloped.

Lake Winnipesaukee's shoreline in Tuftonboro remains largely residential, without the marinas and commercial docks found in busier lake towns. Mirror Lake and several other smaller ponds add to the town's recreational variety.

Housing in Tuftonboro ranges from modest inland homes to premium lakefront property, drawing retirees and second-home buyers who want Winnipesaukee access with a quieter, more private setting than Wolfeboro or Meredith.

Pros & Cons

✓ Pros

•Lake access
•Quiet setting
•Privacy
•Scenic beauty

✗ Cons

•Limited services
•No downtown
•Seasonal economy

Cost of Owning Here

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

2025 Local Tax Rate

$6.40

per $1,000 assessed value

2025 Effective (Equalized) Rate

$6.20

Equalization ratio: 97%

Municipal

$2.22

Local School

$2.50

State Education

$0.96

County

$0.72

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	$6.40	$6.20	$2.22	$2.50	$0.96	$0.72

Source: NH DRA

Example Tax Bills for 2025

Home Value	Estimated Annual Tax	Estimated Monthly
$250,000	$1,600	$133
$350,000	$2,240	$187
$500,000	$3,200	$267
$750,000	$4,800	$400
$1,000,000	$6,400	$533

Estimates calculated using the 2025 local tax rate of $6.40 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

77.6°F

Winter Avg High

33.1°F

Annual Snowfall

59.3 in

Annual Rainfall

46.4 in

Sunny Days/Year

261

Data source: Open-Meteo / ERA5 • Updated 7/4/2026

Transportation & Commute

Commute to Major Cities

Boston

113 mi

~159 min drive

Manchester

63 mi

~104 min drive

Portsmouth

59 mi

~95 min drive

Concord

50 mi

~85 min drive

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

Safety & Crime

Safety Score

10/10

Crime Rate

3.24/1,000

Crime Trend

stable

Data source: FBI Crime Data Explorer (UCR) - https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov/ • Updated 8/12/2026

Recreation & Outdoors

Outdoor Recreation Score

38/100

Trail Miles

31.4

Boat Launches

Winter & Camping

Snowmobile Trails:15 miles

XC Ski Trails:0 miles

Economy & Demographics

💰Income

Median Household Income

$82,837

Per Capita Income

$47,585

Median Family Income

$97,468

🏠Housing Costs

Median Home Value

$386,200

Median Rent

$1,110/mo

Homeownership Rate

90.3%

💼Employment

Unemployment Rate

3.98%

In Labor Force

1,182

🎓Education

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

22.3%

Total with Degree

boatersretirees

Compare Tuftonboro with Other Towns

See how Tuftonboro stacks up against other NH communities.

Compare Towns Browse All Towns