Compare towns
Durham 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Wolfeboro has the most kids (13.7% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Hampton Beach | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
2,605Lowest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
57±1.8 32% above NH |
| Hampton Beach and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Durham and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45kLowest 24% 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 | $1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,375±$130Highest 8% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Hampton Beach and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,115 8% below NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
62.9% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
25 minHighest 5% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #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 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.