Compare towns
Ayer vs Hampton vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ayer | Hampton | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
16,426Highest |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.8±2.1 43% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ayer and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #31 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Winnacunnet High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
10.1Lowest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.