Belknap County · Lakes Region

Center Harbor

Winter Home of Lake Winnipesaukee's Iconic MS Mount Washington

Part of the Meredith area

About Center Harbor

Center Harbor occupies a small but central position in the Lakes Region, with a population of just over 1,100 residents. The town operates its own elementary school as part of the Inter-Lakes/Ashland School District, while maintaining essential services including its fire department. The community remains largely residential, with town government serving as one of the primary local employers. The town's location provides access to the broader Lakes Region while maintaining a quiet, small-town atmosphere. Residents here tend to value the slower pace and the ability to know their neighbors, though this comes with the trade-offs typical of smaller New Hampshire communities - limited local services and the need to travel to nearby towns for most shopping and dining options.

Why Center Harbor?

Population of 1,137 keeps the community small and close-knit
Center Harbor Elementary School serves local families
Location in Lakes Region provides access to recreational opportunities
Town maintains its own fire department for local emergency services
Residential character with minimal commercial development

Quick Facts

Population

1,137

County

Belknap

Region

Lakes Region

School District

SAU 2

Weather in Center Harbor

31°F

Clear

Today

57 / 30

Sun

62 / 38

Mon

62 / 42

Map

Living in Center Harbor

What you need to know about making Center Harbor your home.

Major Employers

Town of Center HarborCenter Harbor Elementary SchoolCenter Harbor Fire Department

Schools & Education

Center Harbor is part of the Inter-Lakes / Ashland School District (SAU 2).

Cost of Living

Housing costs reflect the Lakes Region market, with property values typically higher than the state average (est.). New Hampshire's lack of income and sales tax helps offset higher property tax rates common in the region.

Real Estate

$425,000 (est.) median home price

$18.50 per $1,000 (est.) property tax rate

No state income or sales tax in NH

View listings in Center Harbor

Commute Times

2 hr 30 min

Boston

45 min

Concord

15 min

Laconia

25 min

Plymouth

1 hr 15 min

Manchester

School District

Regional district

Inter-Lakes / Ashland School District(SAU 2)

Grades served: PreK-12

Website

Students attend high school in Meredith.

Center Harbor serves as a district hub for students from nearby towns in this district.

District towns

Meredith Sandwich Ashland

Center Harbor local school (Inter-Lakes / Ashland School District)

PreK-12Elementary

Regional high school (in Meredith) via Inter-Lakes / Ashland School DistrictLakers

PreK-12High School

Hidden Gems in Center Harbor

Beyond the well-known attractions, Center Harbor has spots that locals love and visitors rarely find.

Fogg Hill Conservation Area

year-round

This 235-acre hidden gem harbors some of the best-kept secrets in Center Harbor, including Bear Pond - an active beaver pond where you can spot their old lodges and witness ongoing wildlife activity. The summit trail offers views across Lake Winona and the surrounding hills, while the wetland bog complex was designated a prime wetland by the town in 2013. Most locals don't even know about the rare plants that Dr. Rick Van de Poll discovered here during his ecological survey.

Proctor Wildlife Sanctuary

year-round

While technically an Audubon property, this 47-acre sanctuary is practically unknown to visitors despite being right in town. The towering white pines at the entrance create a cathedral-like gateway to 1.2 miles of peaceful trails that connect to a much larger network of conservation lands. It's part of nearly 400 acres of connected conservation property that includes Center Harbor Woods and Pine Hill, making it feel much larger than its actual size.

Winona Ridge Trail with Climbing Rope

spring

This steep but short trail in the Homestead Forest Conservation Area features an actual climbing rope anchored to help hikers up and down a rock face ledge. The payoff is a stunning view of Lake Winona and the Belknap Mountains that most people never see because they stick to the main conservation areas. The trail passes through old farm foundations and stone walls from the area's forgotten agricultural past.

Centre Harbor Schoolhouse Museum

summer

Housed in an 1886 Queen Anne-style one-room schoolhouse, this tiny museum preserves artifacts from when children entered through separate doors for boys and girls, each with their own cloakroom. The building still has the original raised teacher's platform and oil-burning stove where students' lunches were prepared. It's listed on the NH Register of Historic Places but flies completely under the tourist radar, open only on Saturday mornings in summer.

Kona Fountain

summer

This 1907 bronze sculpture of a Native American boy holding a goose sits in the center of town's main intersection, but most people drive right past without knowing its story. Created by renowned sculptor Richard Gerry Cook and gifted by Boston merchant Herbert Dumaresq, it's tied to the Lake Winnipesaukee naming legend involving Chief Kona and Princess Ellacoya. The fountain gets stored away each winter in a protective shelter, making its spring emergence a true local seasonal marker.