Compare towns
Hampstead vs Mapleton vs Wolfeboro vs Sandown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
Sandown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Mapleton | Wolfeboro | Sandown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102Highest |
1,884Lowest |
6,571 |
6,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
40.8±3.7Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sandown and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$135,040±$25kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Sandown 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 57% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$483,400±$44k 45% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,893±$721Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Sandown and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 177% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
$8,801Highest 182% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.1%±48.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sandown and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.4%±13.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandown 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | — | #46 of 120 in NH | #71 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.