Compare towns
Hampton vs Dedham vs Wolfeboro vs Meredith
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most renters (25.5% rent).
Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Hampton | Dedham | Wolfeboro | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,101Highest |
1,656Lowest |
6,571 |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 32% above U.S. |
46.5±2.2Lowest 20% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,163±$4k 20% above U.S. |
$111,442±$18kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $545,300±$63k 64% above U.S. |
$356,400±$33kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$93Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,422±$607 about the U.S. average |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,872Highest 120% above U.S. |
$3,942Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13%±85.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | — | #46 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Dedham Public Schools | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
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.