Compare towns
Hampstead vs South Hampton 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
Hampstead has the most affordable homes ($521k median).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | South Hampton | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102Highest |
984Lowest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
45.1±5.3Lowest 4% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton 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% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and Wolfeboro 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 |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
| South Hampton 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±$45kLowest 29% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| South Hampton and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$9,109Highest 37% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampstead and South Hampton 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Hampstead 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 |
| School district | Hampstead School District | South Hampton School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.