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Center Harbor, NH


centerharbor New Hampshire Community Profile Community Contact Center Harbor Board of Selectmen
Robin Woodaman, Secretary to Selectmen
PO Box 140
Center Harbor, NH 03226
Telephone (603) 253-4561
Fax (603) 253-8420
E-mail selectmen@centerharbornh.gov
Web Site www.centerharbornh.gov

Municipal Office Hours Town Clerk/Tax Collector: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 8-11:30 and 12:15-3, Wednesday 8-12 and 5-7

County Belknap
Labor Market Area Meredith, NH LMA
Tourism Region Lakes
Planning Commission Lakes Region
Regional Development Belknap County Economic Development Council

Election Districts
US Congress District District 2
Executive Council District District 1
State Senate District District 2
State Representative Belknap County District 1

Incorporated: 1797
Origin: Center Harbor gets its name from two sources: from its location, centered between Meredith and Moultonborough Harbors, and also for the Senter family, who were owners of a large amount of property in the area. The town was incorporated in 1797 after being separated from New Hampton. Center Harbor was a landing place for lake steamers and stagecoaches, making it a popular summer resort. Center Harbor was a favorite spot of John Greenleaf Whittier, and the home of of Dudley Leavitt, author and publisher of Leavitt's Farmers Almanac and Miscellaneous Yearbook, starting in 1797.
Villages and Place Names: West Center Harbor
Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 263 residents in 1800
Population Trends: Population change for Center Harbor totaled 499 over 50 years, from 540 in 1970 to 1,039 in 2020. The 2022 Census estimate for Center Harbor was 1,040 residents, which ranked 185th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.
Population Density and Land Area, 2022 (US Census Bureau): 78.0 persons per square mile of land area. Center Harbor contains 13.3 square miles of land area and 2.9 square miles of inland water area.

Municipal Services
Type of Government Selectmen
Budget: Municipal Appropriations, 2022 $3,256,118
Budget: School Appropriations, 2021-2022 $3,468,532
Zoning Ordinance 1969/16
Master Plan 2012
Capitol Improvement Plan No
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Board
Boards and Commissions
Elected:Selectmen
Appointed:Planning; Conservation; Library; Zoning; Heritage; Energy
Public Library James E. Nichols Memorial

Emergency Services
Police Department Full-time
Fire Department Part-time
Emergency Medical Service Part-time & private
Nearest Hospital(s) Distance Staffed Beds
Speare Memorial, Plymouth 15 miles 25
Concord Hospital - Laconia 16 miles 72

Utilities
Electric Supplier NH Electric Coop
Natural Gas Supplier None
Water Supplier Private wells
Sanitation Private septic & municipal
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Yes
Solid Waste Disposal
Curbside Trash PickupNone
Pay-As-You-Throw ProgramNo
Recycling ProgramMandatory
Telephone Company Consolidated Communications
Cellular Telephone Access Limited
Cable Television Access Limited
Public Access Television Station No
High Speed Internet Service:
BusinessYes
ResidentialYes

(NH Dept. of Revenue Administration) Property Taxes
2022 Total Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) $8.99
2022 Equalization Ratio 92.9
2022 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) $8.34
2022 Percent of Local Assessed Value by Property Type
Residential Land and Buildings95.8%
Commercial Land and Buildings3.6%
Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other0.7%

(ACS 2017-2021) Housing
Total Housing Units 708
Single-Family Units, Detached or Attached 676
Units in Multiple-Family Structures:  
Two to Four Units in Structure 9
Five or More Units in Structure 7
Mobile Homes and Other Housing Units 16
(US Census Bureau) Population
(1-Year Estimates/Decennial)
Total Population Community County
2022 1,040 64,781
2020 1,040 63,705
2010 1,096 60,088
2000 1,000 56,576
1990 979 49,294
1980 808 42,884
 
Demographics, American Community Survey (ACS) 2017-2021
Population by Gender
Male:   424 Female:   401
Population by Age Group
Under age 5 17
Age 5 to 19 74
Age 20 to 34 46
Age 35 to 54 136
Age 55 to 64 161
Age 65 and over 391
Median Age 63.5 years
Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over 726
High school graduate or higher 99.0%
Bachelor's degree or higher 39.8%

(ACS 2017-2021) Income, Inflation Adjusted $
Per capita income $45,987
Median family income $105,917
Median household income $91,071
Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male $54,881
Female $52,188
Individuals below the poverty level 0.5%

(NHES - ELMI) Labor Force
Annual Average 2012 2022
Civilian Labor Force 690 663
Employed 654 651
Unemployed 36 12
Unemployment Rate 5.2% 1.8%

(NHES - ELMI) Employment & Wages
Annual Average Covered Employment 2012 2022
Goods Producing Industries
Average Employment 19 23
Average Weekly Wage $593 $949
     
Service Providing Industries
Average Employment 275 238
Average Weekly Wage $498 $700
     
Total Private Industry
Average Employment 293 261
Average Weekly Wage $504 $723
     
Government (Federal, State, and Local)
Average Employment 25 33
Average Weekly Wage $722 $855
     
Total, Private plus Government
Average Employment 318 294
Average Weekly Wage $521 $738

If "n" appears, data does not meet disclosure standards.


(NH Dept. of Education) Education and Child Care
Schools students attend: Grades K-12 are part of Inter-Lakes Cooperative (Center Harbor, Meredith, Sandwich) SAU 2
Career Technology Center(s): J. Oliva Huot Technical Center (Laconia); Winnisquam Agricultural Programs
Educational Facilities (includes Charter Schools) Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools
Grade Levels 9-12
Total Enrollment
2022 NH Licensed Child Care Facilities (Bureau of Child Care Licensing): Total Facilities: 1 Total Capacity: 14
Nearest Community/Technical College: Lakes Region
Nearest Colleges or Universities: Plymouth State University; Colby-Sawyer

Largest Businesses Product/Service Employees Established
EM Heath, Inc. Hardware, rental center, groceries 50 1945
Maxwell Real Estate Real estate 10 2007

Employer Information Supplied by Municipality


(Distance estimated from city/town hall) Transportation
Road Access US Routes 3
State Routes 25, 25B
Nearest Interstate, Exit I-93, Exit 23
Distance 13 miles
Railroad No
Public Transportation No
 
Nearest Public Use Airport, General Aviation
Moultonborough AirportRunway3,475 ft. asphalt
Lighted? Yes Navigational Aids? No
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Service
Manchester-Boston Regional Distance 68 miles
Number of Passenger Airlines Serving Airport 4
 
Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH 62 miles
Portland, ME 98 miles
Boston, MA 113 miles
New York City, NY 309 miles
Montreal, Quebec 225 miles

(ACS 2017-2021) Commuting to Work
Workers 16 years and over 417
Drove alone, car/truck/van 78.2%
Carpooled, car/truck/van 10.3%
Public transportation 1.4%
Walked 3.6%
Other Means 0.7%
Worked at home 5.8%
Mean Travel Time to Work 22.6 minutes
 
Percent of Working Residents: (ACS 2017-2021)
Working in community of residence 15.8%
Commuting to another NH community 81.1%
Commuting out-of-state 3.1%
Recreation, Attractions, and Events
Municipal Parks
YMCA/YWCA
Boys Club/Girls Club
X Golf Courses
Swimming: Indoor Facility
Swimming: Outdoor Facility
Tennis Courts: Indoor Facility
X Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
Bowling Facilities
Museums
Cinemas
Performing Arts Facilities
Tourist Attractions
Youth Organizations (i.e., Scouts, 4-H)
X Youth Sports: Baseball
X Youth Sports: Soccer
Youth Sports: Football
X Youth Sports: Basketball
Youth Sports: Hockey
Campgrounds
X Fishing/Hunting
X Boating/Marinas
X Snowmobile Trails
Bicycle Trails
X Cross Country Skiing
X Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area
X Overnight or Day Camps
   
Nearest Ski Area(s): Gunstock
   
Other: Proctor Sanctuary

Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security, October 2023. Community Response Received 7/11/23

All information regarding the communities is from sources deemed reliable and is submitted subject to errors, omissions, modifications, and withdrawals without notice. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy of the information contained herein. Specific questions regarding individual cities and towns should be directed to the community contact.

 

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