Compare towns
Hampton vs Dover vs Wolfeboro vs Hampstead
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).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
Hampstead has the most affordable homes ($521k median).
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 | Dover | Wolfeboro | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,101Highest |
5,930Lowest |
6,571 |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 32% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton 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% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Hampstead 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. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $545,300±$63k 64% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kLowest 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$93 17% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
| Dover and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,872 120% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #46 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | — | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.