Compare towns

Exeter 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

Exeter has the most kids (17% under 18).
Hampton Beach has the most people working from home (26.9%).
Wolfeboro has the most homeowners (78.1%).

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.

MeasureExeterHampton BeachWolfeboro
People
Population
16,151Highest
2,605Lowest
6,571
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.2%
NH: +4.6%
+14.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+2.3%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
45.8±2.3Lowest
6% above 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
17%±2.7Highest
NH: 18.2%
3.1%±2.8Lowest
NH: 18.2%
13.7%±3.3
NH: 18.2%
Exeter and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.4%±2.8Lowest
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+
59.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
34%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
45%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.8Highest
NH: 6%
0.6%±0.7Lowest
NH: 6%
2.8%±1.8
NH: 6%
Exeter and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$110,346±$13kHighest
11% above NH
$82,557±$17kLowest
17% below NH
$94,375±$22k
5% below NH
Exeter and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$456,600±$21kLowest
13% 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
$1,856±$223Highest
24% above NH
$1,375±$130
8% below NH
$1,103±$76Lowest
26% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,814Highest
32% above NH
$6,115
8% below NH
$4,531Lowest
32% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59%±11.3
NH: 48.2%
61.7%±20.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
12%±11.6Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Hampton Beach and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.7%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
8.2%Highest
NH: 7.2%
8.2%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.1%
NH: 72.8%
62.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
78.1%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
same as NH
1971Lowest
8 yrs older than NH
1982Highest
3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
7% below NH
25 minHighest
5% below NH
24 minLowest
11% below NH
Work from home
19.9%±3.7Lowest
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 #22 of 120 in NH — #46 of 120 in NH
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District — Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town Exeter High School — Kingswood Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Highest
—
11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.