Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampton vs Wolfeboro vs Newfields
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hampton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Exeter | Hampton | Wolfeboro | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
16,426Highest |
6,571 |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| 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+ | 59.2% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$6,813 about the NH average |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Winnacunnet High School | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
10.1Lowest |
11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | 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.