Compare towns
Canterbury vs Wolfeboro vs Hampstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canterbury has the highest household income ($129k).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Canterbury | Wolfeboro | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,353Lowest |
6,571 |
9,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±3.8 12% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
45.3±6.1Lowest 5% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,333±$37kHighest 31% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Canterbury and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $443,700±$21kLowest 10% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,421 11% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.6%±7.4 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Canterbury 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Shaker Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.