What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).

Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hampden	Wolfeboro
People
Population	7,896Highest	6,571Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S.	57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S.
Kids under 18	25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%	13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	45%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampden and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S.	$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S.
	Hampden and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S.	$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$317Highest 9% below U.S.	$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Hampden and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S.	$4,531Highest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampden and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1982 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	24 minHighest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wolfeboro and Hampden 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	#6 of 133 in ME	#46 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 22	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	Hampden Academy	Kingswood Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.