USLakeFront Lake survey & intelligence
Lakes → New Hampshire → Lake Winnipesaukee

Lake Winnipesaukee

New Hampshire · Natural · near Laconia

44,586 acres 212 ft deep 20 ft clarity Water B
Compare
6.7SCORE
Survey summary · New Hampshire
44,586
Surface acres
212 ft
Max depth
288 mi
Shoreline
20 ft
Typical clarity
504 ft
Elevation

Lake Winnipesaukee covers 44,586 acres in New Hampshire and drops to 212 feet at its deepest point. It is a natural lake, which generally means a more stable shoreline and fewer drawdown surprises than an impoundment. Level is unusually stable, which protects dock usability and shoreline appearance year round. Short-term rental posture: Town by town. Confirm at the municipal level before underwriting rental income.

What stands out

  • Very stable water level year-round
  • Deep water — 212 ft max
  • Large open water, 44,586 acres
  • Boating
  • Sailing

Score breakdown

WATER RECREATION VALUE ACCESS INVESTMENT
Water 8.1
Recreation 7.2
Value 3.5
Access 7.3
Investment 6.9

Each axis is computed by published formula from this lake's own attributes. How we score.

Water quality grade
Water A
ExcellentClear, low-nutrient water. Typically oligotrophic with high clarity and little seasonal algae.
Water B
GoodHealthy water with moderate clarity. Some seasonal variation, no persistent problems.
Water C
FairProductive water — good fishing, reduced clarity. Algae possible in late summer.
Water D
PoorNutrient-rich or heavily drawn down. Swimmable conditions vary; check before you rely on them.

Computed from measured clarity, trophic state, and drawdown magnitude — not an opinion. See the formula.

Overall score, 1–10
8.0+
ExceptionalStrong on every axis we measure.
7.0–7.9
StrongClearly above average, usually with one standout axis.
6.0–6.9
SolidA good lake with a trade-off worth understanding.
5.0–5.9
MixedReal strengths and real compromises.
Under 5
CompromisedSomething material — volatility, water quality, or access.

Weighted: water 26% · recreation 22% · investment 20% · value 18% · access 14%.

Fishery

Lake troutLandlocked salmonSmallmouth bassRainbow trout

On the water

BoatingSailingFishingBeaches
Nearest station: WINNIPESAUKEE RIVER AT TILTON, NH. This is a stream gauge on connected water, not a gauge on the lake itself. It responds to storms and dam releases, so read it as a signal about the system — not as the lake's surface elevation.
3.15 ft
Gage height
2026-08-04

Gauge history

Daily values from USGS. Loading up to one year.

Where it is

True shoreline from USGS NHD 185 km²

The outline is this lake's actual boundary from the USGS National Hydrography Dataset, not an approximation — 531 boundary points. Basemap is USGS topographic with contours and hydrography. Switch layers at the top right.

Depth profile

SURFACE 212 ft max avg 68 ft

Idealized cross-section. Max depth 212 ft, average 68 ft. Depth at a specific dock depends on local bathymetry — verify at the property.

Level behaviour

Level stabilityManaged Typical drawdown3 ft Drawdown seasonAutumn Trophic stateOligotrophic Typical clarity20 ft Water quality gradeB Elevation504 ft Managing authorityNH DES

Dock & shoreline

Permitting authorityNH DES Wetlands Wake / speed rulesNo-wake within 150ft
A dock is never guaranteed. Confirm in writing with NH DES Wetlands that the specific parcel is eligible before you remove contingencies.

Short-term rental posture

Town by town

Generally permitted, but rules change. Confirm the specific municipality and any HOA covenant.
Model rental income →
Modeled estimates. Market figures are derived from lake attributes and regional patterns, not from MLS data. Treat them as a starting point, not a comp.
$1,080,000
Median waterfront
$8,431
Per shoreline foot
+3.7%
Year over year
329
Est. inventory
136
Avg days on market
$659
Est. nightly rate

Rental snapshot

Modeled occupancy67% Booked nights / yr176 Gross revenue$126,213 Net operating income$63,542 Yield on median price5.88%
Open the full model →

What a median-priced home on Lake Winnipesaukee actually costs to carry, with waterfront-specific line items most calculators omit.

$8,584
All-in per month
$245,170
Cash to close + setup
$18,848
Beyond P&I, tax, insurance
Where the annual cost goes
$103,007 PER YEAR
Principal & interest $68,284 (67%) Maintenance reserve (1.1%) $11,880 (12%) Property taxes $11,340 (11%) Hazard insurance $4,536 (4%) Utilities $2,700 (3%) Shoreline / seawall reserve $960 (1%) Dock maintenance $900 (1%) Flood insurance $878 (1%)

Annual carry

Principal & interest$68,284
Property taxes$11,340
Hazard insurance$4,536
Flood insurance$878
Utilities$2,700
Maintenance reserve (1.1%)$11,880
Septic service$520
Well & water testing$260
Dock maintenance$900
Winterization / seasonal close$750
Shoreline / seawall reserve$960
Total$103,007
Model your own numbers →
4.7 / 5 from 3 reviews
Twenty years on this water
Bill T. · Owner on the lake · Spring 2026
5/5

We bought in 2005 and have never regretted it. The lake is busy on holiday weekends and quiet the rest of the time. Get a dock on the main channel if you can — the coves warm up and weed over by August.

Good value compared to nearby lakes
Bill T. · Summer 2025
4/5

Prices here are meaningfully lower than the lake an hour north for water that is nearly as clear. Fewer restaurants and services, which is the tradeoff.

Best family lake we found
Chris N. · Spring 2026
5/5

We looked at six lakes across three states before choosing this one. Sandy bottom in the swim areas, enough marina services, and it never feels crowded outside July.

For sale

Homes on Lake Winnipesaukee

All listings →
Also in New Hampshire

Nearby lakes

American Myths & Legends - Squam Lake.png Water A

Squam Lake

New Hampshire · 6,791 acres
98 ft deep · 25 ft clarity
6.2
Natural 61 mi shore Natural
$900,000 median est. +5.6%