Compare towns
Center Harbor vs Hampton Beach vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Center Harbor has the most homeowners (91%).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Wolfeboro has the most kids (13.7% under 18).
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 | Center Harbor | Hampton Beach | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 955Lowest |
2,605 |
6,571Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
57±1.8Lowest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Wolfeboro and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,313±$16kHighest 5% above NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Center Harbor and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$74kLowest 15% above NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,375±$130Highest 8% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,667 30% below NH |
$6,115Highest 8% below NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
25 minHighest 5% below NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach and Wolfeboro 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 |
| School district | — | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | — | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.