Compare towns
Hampstead vs Derry vs Wolfeboro vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Hampstead | Derry | Wolfeboro | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
34,116Highest |
6,571Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
| Derry and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Pelham 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | Kingswood Regional High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9Highest |
11.1 |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.