Compare towns
Hampton vs Dorchester 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
Hampton has the youngest population (median age 51.2).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Dorchester | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,101Highest |
410Lowest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— | +2.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7Lowest 18% above NH |
56±10.5 29% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Hampton and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,163±$4kHighest about the NH average |
— | $94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
| Hampton and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| 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 11% above NH |
— | $1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,872Highest 3% above NH |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton 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 |
| School district | — | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | — | Kingswood Regional High School |
| 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.