Compare towns
Hampstead vs Wolfeboro vs Sandown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
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 | Wolfeboro | Sandown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102Highest |
6,571Lowest |
6,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
40.8±3.7Lowest 6% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$135,040±$25kHighest 36% above NH |
| 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 29% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$483,400±$44kLowest 20% above NH |
| 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 13% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
| 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 30% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$8,801Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school 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 Our Story | 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.